Research at the UC Davis Cancer Center has published a way to eliminate sensitized muscle invasive bladder cancer cells by chemotherapy. Bladder cancer cells can also contain an increased production of microRNA which plays an important role in the deadliest types of cancers.

Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug has been used to eliminate these types of cells. Patients with advanced bladder cancer have a survival rate of around 50%. Many studies have found that survival rates can improve if patients undergo chemotherapy.

Researchers conducted a study which analyzed 27 patients. Those who did not respond to the chemotherapy and surgery treatment had low levels of the gene microRNA.

The author of the study describe the research further: "We wanted to see, if you looked at the patient's tissue before chemotherapy, were there differentially expressed microRNAs in the patients who responded to the drugs versus those that didn't respond”.

Scientists are determined that treatment will one day be accessible to decrease the role microRNA plays in cancer formation.