Could PD-L1 prove to be an effective therapeutic target for bladder cancer?

Highlighting this years’ American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference were presentations focusing on T-cell immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic target in solid tumors. Promising results in melanoma, lung and renal cancers have led to further disease-specific Phase I and II trials of immune checkpoint blockade in other solid tumors refractory to treatment.

Metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is one such tumor; this disease is associated with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. The last significant advance in metastatic bladder cancer treatment came with the application of cisplatin-based chemotherapies over two decades ago. Despite the widespread use of cisplatin-based combination regimens and improved supportive care, 5 year survival rates for metastatic UBC remain around 15%.

Click here to view full article.