Novel use of carboplatin, etoposide and durvalumab as neoadjuvant therapy in treatment of small cell bladder cancer

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder (SCCB) is a rare and aggressive variant of bladder cancer requiring multimodal treatment. We present a case of an 82-year-old male with SCCB with bulky pelvic adenopathy treated with a novel neoadjuvant combination of carboplatin, etoposide, and durvalumab with complete response of the small cell component. We also describe a rare complication of retinopathy resulting from this treatment. This study presents the potential efficacy and promise of adding immunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for SCCB to achieve a long-term cure.