The BRAVO (Bladder Cancer Recurrence Analysis in Veterans and Outcomes) trial, presented at the South Central Section of the AUA Annual Meeting 2024, reveals that blue light cystoscopy significantly reduces the risk of bladder cancer recurrence in veterans compared to white light cystoscopy. The study, led by Ali Nasrallah, MD, examined real-world outcomes within the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, an equal access setting.
The BRAVO study demonstrated that blue light cystoscopy reduced the three-year recurrence risk to 75% compared to 67% with white light cystoscopy. This improvement highlights the potential of blue light cystoscopy as a beneficial tool in the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The study also noted that the use of intravesical therapies was more prevalent in the blue light cystoscopy group.
While the recurrence rates were significantly different, the study found that progression rates were similar between the two groups. This suggests that while blue light cystoscopy aids in the detection and management of recurrence, it may not impact the overall progression of the disease. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects on disease progression.
The findings support the use of blue light cystoscopy in clinical practice to improve the detection and management of bladder cancer recurrence, particularly in high-risk populations such as veterans. The increased use of intravesical therapies following blue light cystoscopy suggests that improved detection leads to more proactive treatment strategies.
These results emphasize the importance of advanced diagnostic tools in improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of bladder cancer recurrence. The BRAVO trial provides valuable real-world evidence supporting the adoption of blue light cystoscopy in routine clinical practice.
