Charles Ryan, MD

“These are important data. It is safe to envision a future where atezolizumab [Tecentriq] can be used first-line. These were cisplatin-ineligible patients, and many patients fall into this category, especially the elderly. Platinum-ineligibility is a big problem due to comorbidities,” explained Charles Ryan, MD, ASCO expert in bladder cancer, of the University of California, San Francisco.

“Immunotherapies have brought new momentum to bladder cancer treatment. Until recently there had been no treatment advances in more than a decade. It is nice to see advances such as immunotherapy moving into cisplatin-ineligible patients. It is all the more encouraging that this appears to be a safe treatment for elderly patients, who too often have few good options,” Dr. Ryan noted. ■

Disclosure: Dr. Ryan reported no potential conflicts of interest.