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Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Diagnosis:

Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (includes T2 tumors) , Locally Advanced (includes T3 tumors) , Metastatic Bladder Cancer (includes T4 tumors)

Treatment Category:

Immunotherapy

Treatment:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Suitable for:
  • Usually given to people who have already received chemotherapy but didn’t respond and need treatment with another therapy
  • Also suitable for people who responded well to chemotherapy to maintain the benefits of this treatment
  • Also suitable for people who can’t have surgery due to serious health problems, often in combination with other treatments
  • Also suitable for people who can’t have chemotherapy due to other health problems, such as kidney failure or heart failure
How it works:

Helps to boost the body’s immune response by helping immune cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. This helps the body to shrink or slow the growth of tumors, slowing the progression of the cancer

How it is typically used:
  • Can be used as a secondary treatment for advanced bladder cancer if the cancer continues to progress after treatment with chemotherapy
  • Some can be used after surgery in cases where there is a high risk of the cancer reoccurring
  • For advanced bladder cancer, a treatment regimen of chemotherapy followed by an immune checkpoint inhibitor may be used as maintenance therapy, to maintain the benefits of chemotherapy and slow the progression of the cancer
How it is administered:

Administered as an infusion directly into a vein

Side effects:
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Rash
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
Is this given with other treatments?

Chemotherapy –> immune checkpoint inhibitor maintenance treatment: For advanced bladder cancer, a treatment regimen of chemotherapy followed by an immune checkpoint inhibitor may be used as maintenance therapy, to maintain the benefits of chemotherapy and slow the progression of the cancer

Disclaimer: Information and services provided by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) are for informational purposes only. The information and services are not intended to be substitutes for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are ill, or suspect that you are ill, seek professional medical attention immediately! BCAN does not recommend or endorse any specific physicians, treatments, procedures or products even though they may be mentioned on this site.

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