Recent advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma: A review

Abstract

Treatment options for urothelial carcinoma were limited until the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and even now, the prognosis of metastatic disease is poor compared with the other two major genitourinary cancers, renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer. Despite the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the sequential treatment of urothelial carcinoma, conflicting results from similar randomized clinical trials call into question the efficacy of this treatment. In addition, physicians must be aware of the clinical characteristics of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including immune‐related adverse events, pseudo‐ and hyperprogression. This review summarizes the conflicting results of recent clinical trials and provides insights into the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.