Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed death (PD)-1 pathway have substantially changed the clinical management of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC); however, the response rate remains low. There are ongoing efforts to identify robust biomarkers that can effectively predict the treatment response to ICIs. Previous studies have suggested that ERBB2/3 mutations are associated with the efficacy of ICIs in gallbladder carcinoma.
Case summary: We present a 59-year-old man with mUC harboring ERBB2/3 mutations (in-frame insertion of ERBB2 and ERBB3 amplification), negative PD-ligand 1 expression, and low tumor mutation burden. He received anti-PD-1 antibodies and paclitaxel as second-line treatment. After two cycles of treatment, the lung metastases had significantly shrunk, achieving good partial remission. After six cycles of combination therapy, the patient received sindilimab 200 mg once every 3 wk as maintenance monotherapy. At the last follow-up, the patient continued to exhibit a partial response and progression-free survival for as long as 19 mo.
Conclusion: ERBB2/3 mutations may represent a predictive biomarker for selecting a subgroup of mUC patients who will benefit from ICIs.
Keywords: Bladder cancer; Case report; ERBB; Programmed death; Sindilimab; Urothelial carcinoma.
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