Genitourinary cancer
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Genitourinary cancers, including prostate, bladder and kidney, have seen recent advances in innovation and personalised care, however challenges still remain.1,2
At AstraZeneca, we are committed to helping advance science to understand drivers of these diseases, enabling earlier diagnosis and more targeted therapies to improve outcomes and quality of life for all patients.
Genitourinary cancers today: Earlier intervention, better long-term outcomes
Genitourinary cancers are a group of cancers that affect the urinary system, including the bladder and kidneys, as well as the male reproductive organs such as the prostate.1
Despite recent advancements and innovation in genitourinary cancer care, unmet needs remain.2 Advancing new strategies that target the genetic drivers of these cancers and harness the efficiency of the immune system is essential to improving care pathways and delivering more effective, tailored care.
AstraZeneca aims to transform care of genitourinary cancers, enabling a 20-fold increase in patients being treated.
About prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men and the fifth leading cause of male cancer death globally, with an incidence of more than 1.4 million and approximately 400,000 deaths in 2022.3,4 Prostate cancer rates are expected to double by 2040, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and innovative care options.5
The prostate is a gland in the male genitourinary system that contributes fluid to semen and produces prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which helps liquefy semen and supports sperm function.6 If cells in the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably, cancer can develop6,7 Development of prostate cancer is often driven by male sex hormones called androgens, including testosterone.8
Early diagnosis of prostate cancer may potentially lead to improved survival when the disease is at a localised and in more treatable stage.9 When detected early, five-year relative survival rates for men with localised or regional prostate cancer can reach nearly 100%.10,11 When prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate to other sites in the body, it is classified as metastatic disease, which can present as metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) or metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).8
In patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), prostate cancer cells need high levels of androgens to drive cancer growth.8 Hormone therapies, such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), are widely used to block the action of male sex hormones and lower the levels of androgens in the body.8 However, resistance to these therapies is common, according to 2020 data, up to 20% of patients with advanced prostate cancer will develop castration-resistant prostate cancer within approximately 5 years of follow up.12
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) occurs when prostate cancer grows and spreads to other parts of the body and no longer responds effectively to testosterone-lowering treatments.8 Most patients with mCRPC unfortunately succumb to this aggressive disease within two to three years, demonstrating the critical unmet need for therapy advancements in this area.13 In patients with de novo mHSPC, the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body at the time of first diagnosis.14
About bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world, with more than 600,000 cases diagnosed in 2022.15 The most common type is urothelial carcinoma, which begins in the urothelial cells of the urinary tract.16
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) refers to cancer in the early stages, when cancer cells are only in the inner lining of the bladder and have not grown into the muscle layer of the bladder wall.17 More than 70% of bladder cancer patients are diagnosed with NMIBC, and among those with high-risk disease, rates of progression can be as high as 45%, with recurrence rates reaching up to 80% within five years.18,19 The current standard of care for high-risk NMIBC is transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) followed by instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy directly into the bladder.20 However, 30-80% of NMIBC patients experience disease recurrence within five years, underscoring the critical need for new care options in this curative-intent setting.21
Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) means the cancer has spread into or through the muscle layer of the bladder, while metastatic bladder cancer means the cancer has spread from the bladder to other parts of the body and is considered advanced cancer.17 Approximately 1 in 4 patients with bladder cancer has MIBC.22 In MIBC, a curative-intent setting, approximately 117,000 patients are treated with standard treatment which includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy (surgery to remove the bladder).23-25 However, even after cystectomy, patients experience high rates of disease recurrence and a poor prognosis.25 This data highlights the critical need for care options that prevent disease recurrence after surgery.
About renal cancer
Renal cancer which starts in the cells of the kidney, has a rising worldwide incidence estimated at 400,000 new cases annually, and a worldwide mortality rate approaching 175,000 deaths per year.26
The most common type of renal cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), accounting for about 90% of all cases.27 Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most frequent renal cancer subtype and represents 15–20% of all RCC.28
In its early stages, renal cancer often does not produce any symptoms, and diagnosis can be incidental and commonly late.27,29 RCC is associated with a high risk of recurrence leading to a significant increase in mortality, healthcare resource utilisation and health care costs.30
Our R&D approach in genitourinary cancers
We are building on more than 35 years of experience to help improve outcomes for people affected by genitourinary cancers, including prostate, bladder and kidney cancers. Our work in prostate cancer science has already helped transform countless lives and now we are accelerating investments in new approaches and technologies.
Our R&D approach advances care across the disease spectrum. We are committed to advancing precision approaches into earlier disease stages, as well as developing strategies and combination therapies to address areas of greatest unmet need across prostate, bladder and renal cancers, bringing us closer to our ambition of eliminating genitourinary cancers as a cause of death.
We are designing our portfolio to explore rational combinations that can benefit both biomarker-defined and broader patient groups. Biomarker-guided precision care is a central focus, enabling us to drive advances across different stages of prostate cancer, including metastatic and non-metastatic disease. With our growing understanding of the biology and molecular drivers, we can better identify the diverse factors that influence disease development, progression and response to treatment. This includes genetic mutations as well as molecular and imaging-based markers, which can guide earlier intervention and more tailored care strategies.
We are also advancing next-generation approaches to harness the efficiency of the immune system and other innovative modalities against bladder, renal and prostate cancers. This includes investigating bispecific antibodies, as well as targeted radioconjugates in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In addition, we are exploring cell therapies and T-cell engagers, with the potential to drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and, ultimately, functional cures in advanced disease.
Partnering to advance care in genitourinary cancers
Progress in genitourinary cancers requires more than scientific innovation. It takes collaboration with healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups and policy leaders to improve awareness, drive earlier diagnosis and expand access to care.
Raising awareness of prostate cancer risks and symptoms
Never Miss is a global educational campaign co-created with MSD and aimed at promoting early diagnosis of prostate cancer. This initiative addresses the personal barriers that prevent many men from getting checked for prostate cancer, while leveraging their passion for sports to capture their attention online. The campaign focuses on encouraging conversations between men and their loved ones and healthcare professionals, so that they would Never Miss a chance at an early diagnosis.
By engaging with men and their families via the multi-lingual website ProstateNeverMiss.com and social media, we help our key audiences to deepen their knowledge about prostate cancer risks and the importance of early diagnosis.
Other Oncology areas of focus
References
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3. Bray F, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024; 1-35.
4. World Health Organization. IARC. Estimated number of incident cases from 2022 to 2050, Males, age [0-85+]. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/tomorrow/en/dataviz/trends?types=0_1&sexes=1&mode=cancer&group_populations=0&multiple_populations=0&multiple_cancers=1&cancers=27&populations=900. Accessed February 2026.
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24. Gill E, et al. Mini-Review: Current Bladder Cancer Treatment-The Need for Improvement. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jan 26;25(3):1557.
25. van der Heijden AG, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on Muscle-invasive and Metastatic Bladder Cancer: Summary of the 2025 Guidelines. Eur Urol. 2025;87(5):582-600
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27. Cancer Council. Kidney Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/kidney-cancer. Accessed February 2026.
28. Jang A, et al. Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Kidney Cancer. 2024;8(1):61–79.
29. Bradley A J, et al. Routes to diagnosis and missed opportunities in the detection of renal cancer. Clinical Radiology, 2021;76:129-134
30. Murali S, et al. Clinical and economic burdens of recurrence following nephrectomy for intermediate high- or high-risk renal cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare data. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 Oct;28(10):1149–1160.
Veeva ID: Z4-79789
Date of preparation: March 2026