Robert Jones, MD, PhD

Formal discussant of this trial, Robert Jones, MD, PhD, of the University of Glasgow, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center, Glasgow, Scotland, said: “I think it is clear that programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1)–targeted immunotherapy now has a role for most patients with advanced urothelial cancer. The survival curves were significantly separated at 2 years, and the overall survival data are consistent with previous analyses of this trial.”

“The pembrolizumab [Keytruda] results should increase confidence in the second-line use of the drug and help patients make an informed decision about whether or not to accept this treatment. The results remain in keeping with the possibility of a long immunotherapy survival tail. None of these data support a role for second-line cytotoxics after failure of platinum in preference to a checkpoint inhibitor,” Dr. Jones said. ■

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Jones reported no conflicts of interest.