Dr. Friedlander on Checkpoint Inhibitors in Second-Line Bladder Cancer Treatment

Terence Friedlander, MD, an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, discusses checkpoint inhibitors in second-line bladder cancer treatment.

Which checkpoint inhibitor to prescribe depends on physician's choice. The cleanest data are for pembrolizumab (Keytruda) from the KEYNOTE-045 study, because there was an overall survival benefit, and for atezolizumab (Tecentriq).

Nivolumab (Opdivo), avelumab (Bavencio), and durvalumab (Imfinzi) are also reasonable options, explains Friedlander. Until these agents are explored in a head-to-head comparison, none of these inhibitors are favored over the others, says Friedlander.