Results of radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the effect of chemotherapy

Background. Radical cystectomy continues to be one of the primary modalities of treatment for locally advanced bladder cancer. However, long‐term survival after cystectomy has improved only marginally in the last decade, and still, nearly half of the patients die from the disease within 5 years. Adjuvant treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been used, but a clear advantage has not been demonstrated.