Ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by chemoradiotherapy as bladder-sparing treatment in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a phase 2 trial
The study demonstrated that induction combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by chemoradiotherapy resulted in a 78% 2‑year bladder‑intact event‑free survival (BI‑EFS) in patients with stage II/III muscle‑invasive bladder cancer.
Radical cystectomy is the most commonly used definitive local treatment for muscle‑invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)... In conclusion, our results show that induction combination immunotherapy followed by CRT is an effective bladder‑sparing treatment in MIBC, and response can be monitored by ctDNA.
This work provides evidence that peri‑operative immune checkpoint inhibition before chemoradiotherapy can achieve high bladder‑sparing rates, potentially preserving quality of life for patients with advanced MIBC who may otherwise undergo cystectomy.
Evidence level: Klinikai vizsgálat. Formális klinikai vizsgálati eredmény.