Avelumab in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) remain poor. Targeting the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-(L)1) immune checkpoint pathway has emerged as a useful target in patients with UC. Avelumab is a PD-L1 inhibitor, resulting in restoration of a cytotoxic, antitumor T cell response. Results from the JAVELIN bladder 100 trial has resulted in a new standard of care of platinum-based chemotherapy sequenced by maintenance avelumab in advanced or metastatic UC.

Areas covered: This review covers the clinical evidence for avelumab in UC. This includes the maintenance approach with avelumab, which has become the standard of care, following platinum-based chemotherapy.

Expert opinion: Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in metastatic UC holds much promise, but has not been optimized. First-line maintenance avelumab is an attractive option for these patients. Future research will significantly change the landscape of treatment in the near future.

Keywords: Avelumab; biomarker; genitourinary cancer; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; systemic therapy; urothelial carcinoma.