Optimal use of systemic therapy to improve long-term outcome in locoregionally advanced and metastatic urothelial cancer

Abstract

The introduction of immune checkpoint blockade has led to a rapid evolution in the field of oncological treatment. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate how systemic therapy could be further improved in locally advanced and metastatic UC. In locally advanced urothelial cancer, we explored potential biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint blockade, we evaluated the effects of immune checkpoint blockade on the tumor micro-environment, and we assessed pathological complete response rates of pre-operative therapy. In both locally advanced and metastatic urothelial cancer, we evaluated long-term survival following immune-checkpoint blockade.