One immunotherapeutic agent is approved for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.
Topics Covered:
Approved immunotherapeutic agents
Combination therapy/treatment algorithms
Clinical trials
Approved immunotherapeutic agents (for bladder cancer)
Atezolizumab, an anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, was approved in 2016 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in patients with disease progression after treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.
Bladder cancer combination therapy/treatment algorithms
Currently, atezolizumab is not recommended as part of a combination therapy regimen. The NCI recommends treatment with one of the following agents or combinations for patients with disease progression after first-line therapy:
- Atezolizumab;
- Paclitaxel or docetaxel;
- Gemcitabine; or
- Pemetrexed.
Current clinical trials for bladder cancer
The PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab was designated in early 2016 as a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of urothelial cancer. The NCI recommends that patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease who have failed first-line treatment should participate in clinical trials of new treatment agents.
Thank you for participating in this module. Click below to download the certificate.