AUA–IBCG Bladder Cancer Forum
2025-04-28 | Venetian, AUA Annual Meeting, Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, United States
Join us for the 4th annual AUA–IBCG Bladder Cancer Forum, featuring rapid-fire debates on key controversies in contemporary bladder cancer management.
IBCG members from around the world will present both sides of pressing clinical questions, offering diverse perspectives and expert insights in a fast-paced, engaging format.

IBCG25 Annual Retreat
2025-08-21 - 2025-08-23 | Houston, Houston, TX, United States
Written by Dr Roberto Contieri
The 3rd Annual International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) Retreat was held in Houston from August 21–23, 2025. This meeting once again demonstrated the prestige and unique role of the IBCG in shaping the future of bladder cancer research and care.
In his President’s Welcome, Dr. Ashish Kamat highlighted the spirit of collaboration, inclusiveness, and patient-centeredness that defines IBCG. Over two days, more than 100 leading clinicians, researchers, regulators, and patient advocates came together to tackle the most pressing challenges in bladder cancer.
The Retreat has become a cornerstone for the uro-oncology community. The depth of discussion, the focus on clinically meaningful outcomes, and the collegial atmosphere underscored its pivotal importance for both research and practice. One of the most striking aspects was the truly global nature of the gathering – with participants from over 25 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. The diversity of expertise and perspectives created a vibrant exchange of ideas and reinforced the IBCG’s mission to build a worldwide network of collaboration.

This year’s program centered on two major themes

Biomarkers in Urothelial Cancer

Advancing the integration of biomarkers into clinical workflows, from early detection to risk stratification, treatment selection, and surveillance, to enable more precise, personalized care.

Local Bladder Toxicity

Defining and measuring bladder specific toxicity across surgery, intravesical therapies, radiotherapy, and systemic treatments, with the goal of developing practical tools to monitor and reduce adverse effects.

Importantly, the in-person meeting was the culmination of months of preparatory work. Working groups drafted consensus statements that were then discussed, amended, and voted upon by all attendees during the Retreat to achieve consensus across both themes. Several proposals for new international collaborations also emerged – including multicenter studies to validate toxicity tools, harmonized approaches to biomarker testing, and global registries that will extend the reach of the IBCG’s work far beyond this single meeting.
The Retreat placed a strong emphasis on the patient voice, with active involvement of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) and the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC). Their contributions ensured that scientific and clinical advances were grounded in what matters most – meaningful improvements in the lives of those living with bladder cancer. Dialogue with regulators from the FDA and EMA further enriched the meeting, opening new avenues for international collaboration.

The IBCG also recognized outstanding contributions within the community:
· IBCG Champion Award – presented to Dr. Joan Palou for his exceptional leadership and lasting impact on the field.
· IBCG Travel Award – awarded to Dr. Roberto Contieri, supporting the next generation of leaders in bladder cancer.
From a personal perspective, it was a true honor to receive the IBCG Travel Award in front of such a distinguished audience. This recognition, together with the enthusiasm and dedication of all IBCG members toward a shared mission, has been deeply inspiring and has further strengthened my motivation to pursue this path with even greater commitment. The IBCG Retreat is an exceptionally formative meeting for young urologists and researchers: it offered me the opportunity to engage directly with world-leading experts, to immerse myself in the latest evidence, and to participate in high-level discussions on the most pressing and forward-looking topics in the field. Beyond knowledge, it provided a vision of how our discipline is evolving and how international collaboration can truly accelerate progress. For me, it has been not only an educational milestone, but also a source of lasting inspiration to continue contributing to the future of bladder cancer research and care.
In conclusion, the IBCG2025 Retreat embodied the best of science and collaboration – rigorous debate, global participation, forward-looking projects, patient-centered focus, and enduring friendships. It reaffirmed the IBCG’s mission to unite experts and advocates worldwide in the pursuit of progress that truly benefits patients.

MEXICAN BLADDER CANCER GUIDELINES
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-04 | Mexico, Mexico, Mexico
By Dr. Arturo Mendoza-Valdés
Under the joint leadership of Dr. Ashish Kamat, President of the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG), and Dr. Arturo Mendoza-Valdés, member of the IBCG and Scientific Committee Chairman of the Mexican Urologic Oncology Association (AMUO), and its former and current Presidents, Dr. Juan Carlos Huerta and Dr. Héctor Sanchez, respectively, a landmark initiative was launched to develop the Mexican Bladder Cancer Guidelines.
Following almost two years of dedicated work, the IBCG, together with the AMUO, the Mexican Urologic Association (SMU), and the Colegio Mexicano de Urología (CMUN), convened on October 3–4, 2024 in Mexico City to create the first national, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer in Mexico.
While numerous international guidelines exist—such as those of the AUA, EAU, NCCN, and IBCG—most are broadly concordant, differing mainly in nuance. The goal of this project was not to reinvent new guidelines, but rather to integrate the best elements of existing ones, updated with the latest evidence, into a clear, practical, and resource-sensitive framework reflecting Mexico’s healthcare systems.
To ensure genuine national representation and broad consensus, the Presidents of the major Mexican urologic associations and leading urologists dedicated to bladder cancer were invited to participate, along with the heads of the most important academic and government institutions, including ISSSTE (Hospital 20 de Noviembre, Hospital de Iztapaluca), IMSS (Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, La Raza), the Central Military Hospital, and hospitals under the Health Ministry, such as Hospital General de México, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Hospital Gea González, and the National Cancer Institute, as well as leading centers in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mérida. These institutions also represent the country’s major urology residency training programs.
In total, around 40 specialists from across Mexico participated—predominantly urologists, joined by medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. From the IBCG, participants included Drs. Ashish Kamat, Roger Buckley, Roger Li, Mario Fernández, and Andrea Apolo.
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Kamat and Dr. Mendoza-Valdés, who outlined the rationale, objectives, and methodology for developing the guidelines. Dr. Kamat emphasized the spirit of collaboration, inclusiveness, and patient-centeredness that defines IBCG’s global mission.
The scientific sessions covered the full spectrum of bladder cancer:

Dr. Roger Buckley presented on NMIBC screening and diagnosis, including epidemiology, etiology, staging systems, CIS and variant histology, and biomarkers for early detection.
Dr. Roger Li addressed NMIBC risk stratification, treatment strategies, and recurrence after BCG, including practical recommendations for Mexico such as the adoption of enhanced imaging technologies for cystoscopy where feasible.
Dr. Mario Fernández discussed MIBC management, focusing on neoadjuvant therapy, bladder preservation, and partial cystectomy.
Dr. Andrea Apolo concluded the meeting with a comprehensive update on systemic therapies for metastatic urothelial carcinoma, including newly available and forthcoming options in Mexico.

Each presentation was followed by vigorous discussion and debate, with participants actively engaged in refining statements and recommendations. On the final day, all topics underwent structured review and voting in the IBCG’s modified Delphi consensus format, similar to IBCG’s annual international retreats.
The meeting was highly successful, achieving its academic and collaborative goals in a collegial, respectful, and energetic environment. On Friday evening, participants gathered for a traditional Mexican dinner that reinforced the camaraderie and unity of purpose shared by all.
The finalized Mexican Bladder Cancer Guidelines will be formally presented to the national urology community at upcoming major meetings, including the SMU Annual Meeting (November 2025), ANUER (January 2026), CMUN (June 2026), and AMUO (July 2026). They will be disseminated widely to ensure that urologists across the country have access to up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations, enabling the best possible care for patients with bladder cancer in Mexico.
In conclusion, this IBCG initiative, which this year focused on Mexico, was an outstanding success thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of every participant—from both the Mexican and IBCG teams. The meeting demonstrated that Mexican specialists from diverse associations and institutions can unite under a shared vision to advance patient care, echoing IBCG’s broader mission of global collaboration and scientific excellence in bladder cancer.
