Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that affects the cells lining the bladder, a hollow organ in the pelvis responsible for storing urine. It is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with an estimated 83,730 new cases and 17,200 deaths in 2021 alone. While treatment options for bladder cancer have improved over the years, there is still a need for more effective therapies to improve survival rates and quality of life for patients.
A recent study has shown promising results in the treatment of bladder cancer using a combination of two drugs: Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab). Padcev is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets Nectin-4, a protein found on the surface of bladder cancer cells. Keytruda, on the other hand, is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
The study, known as EV-103, included patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer who had previously received platinum-based chemotherapy and were ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The participants were divided into two groups: one receiving the combination treatment of Padcev and Keytruda, and the other receiving Padcev alone.
The results of the study were highly encouraging. The combination treatment group showed a significant improvement in overall survival compared to the Padcev alone group. The median overall survival was 12.3 months in the combination group, compared to 7.3 months in the Padcev alone group. This represents a 5-month increase in survival, which is a substantial improvement for patients with advanced bladder cancer.
Furthermore, the combination treatment also demonstrated a higher objective response rate (ORR) compared to Padcev alone. ORR refers to the percentage of patients who experience a partial or complete shrinkage of their tumors. In the combination group, the ORR was 73%, while in the Padcev alone group, it was 57%. This suggests that the combination treatment is more effective in reducing tumor size and controlling the progression of the disease.
The safety profile of the combination treatment was also favorable, with no new safety concerns identified. The most common side effects observed were fatigue, decreased appetite, rash, and diarrhea. These side effects were generally manageable and consistent with the known safety profiles of Padcev and Keytruda.
These findings have significant implications for the treatment of bladder cancer. Currently, there are limited treatment options available for patients who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. The combination of Padcev and Keytruda offers a new and effective treatment strategy that can potentially improve survival rates and quality of life for these patients.
It is important to note that this study is still ongoing, and further research is needed to confirm these results. However, the initial findings are promising and provide hope for bladder cancer patients who are in need of more effective therapies.
In conclusion, the combination treatment of Padcev and Keytruda has shown improved survival rates and objective response rates in patients with advanced bladder cancer. This represents a significant advancement in the field of bladder cancer treatment and offers new hope for patients who have limited options. Further research and clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and establish this combination as a standard of care for bladder cancer patients.
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- Source: Plato Data Intelligence.
- Source Link: https://platohealth.ai/padcev-and-keytruda-double-bladder-cancer-survival/