[New aspects of chemotherapy and indications for maintenance immunotherapy in urothelial cancers].

Abstract

Chemotherapy for the treatment of urothelial and bladder cancers has focused on renewed indications in light of clinical trials of modern therapies, which are described in our review. In stage T2-T4a N0-1 M0 cases, that are suitable for cisplatin, surgery is performed after neoadjuvant cisplatin- based chemotherapy. Less significant result is observed with adjuvant chemotherapy, especially in pT3-4 and/or N+ stage, if no neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment of cisplatin-eligible metastatic patients. First-line choice in chemo-fit cases with cisplatin ineligibility can be carboplatin- based chemotherapy. 4-6 cycles of cisplatin or carboplatin cause stable disease or regression, maintenance avelumab immunotherapy improves patient's survival. For those patients who progress during or after platinum-based chemotherapy, the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the second/multiple lines is less favourable in comparison with immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Modern antibody - cytotoxic drug conjugates have been discovered in the form of enfortumab vedotin and sacituzumab govitecan, and currently they seem to be effective in the third line after chemotherapy and immunotherapy.