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 themesBiomarkers in Urothelial CancerAdvancing the integration of biomarkers into clinical workflows, from early detection to risk stratification, treatment selection, and […]

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 […]