A plain language summary exploring a new treatment combination for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab

Future Oncol. 2024 Mar;20(7):351-360. doi: 10.2217/fon-2023-0112. Epub 2023 Nov 23.

Abstract

What is this summary about?: This summary provides the results of a study of two treatments for cancer, enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab, that were studied together against locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC), a cancer that occurs most commonly in the bladder.

What were the results?: In the 45 patients studied, around 16% did have serious side effects, but most side effects were manageable. Twenty-four percent of patients, however, stopped the study treatment because of their side effects. Within about 2 months of starting treatment, most patients' (73%) tumors were smaller and stayed smaller, on average, for more than 2 years.

What do the results mean?: The combination of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab is a new treatment option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer when they cannot receive the typical treatment, cisplatin. Advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer is a type of cancer where the cancer has already spread outside of the bladder or urinary tract.

Keywords: enfortumab vedotin; lay summary; pembrolizumab; plain language summary; urothelial cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Urologic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Urologic Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • pembrolizumab
  • enfortumab vedotin
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal