Dr. Gupta on Challenges With Perioperative Immunotherapy in Bladder Cancers

Shilpa Gupta, MD, medical oncologist, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses challenges with ​perioperative immunotherapy in bladder cancer.

Findings from a recent clinical trial showed that the median time to surgery is 7 days in patients with bladder cancer, says Gupta. However, there are no data to inform whether 7 days is too small a window between neoadjuvant therapy, surgery, and postoperative therapy. 

However, multidisciplinary ​care of these patients is paramount ​to ensure surgeons are aware of potential complications and prior treatments, Gupta explains. 

Amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, developing a greater understanding of the pulmonary toxicities associated with immunotherapeutic agents is important. Moreover, it has become increasingly difficult to pinpoint whether pulmonary adverse effects are immunotherapy-related or COVID-19–related, Gupta concludes.