Photo Credit: Elena Merkulova
The following is a summary of “Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy as a neoadjuvant treatment for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma,” published in the October 2024 issue of Urology by Ding et al.
Immunotherapy is standard for advanced urothelial carcinoma and is being explored in neoadjuvant bladder cancer treatment.
Researchers conducted a prospective study on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in neoadjuvant muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treatment.
They retrieved relevant trials from PubMed/MEDLINE and clinical trials databases. They also reviewed abstracts from significant oncology meetings, including ASCO, AACR, ESMO, and ECCO, up to the ESMO 2023 congress and incorporated results from recent exploratory investigations.
The results showed promising preliminary findings from small Phase II trials, with stage reduction rates comparable to or exceeding standard chemotherapy. Pathologic complete response rates were the primary endpoint, with no compromise to subsequent radical cystectomy.
They concluded that early results of ICI in neoadjuvant bladder cancer treatment were promising. However, confirmation in large phase III trials was needed, focusing on long-term survival and patient response.
Source: journals.lww.com/cur/fulltext/9900/immune_checkpoint_inhibitor_therapy_as_a.176.aspx
