Treatment of bladder cancer with the adjuvant drug Opdivo
Opdivo Offers Hope for High-Risk Bladder Cancer Patients
Opdivo, a PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy drug, has been approved by the FDA as an adjuvant therapy for high-risk bladder cancer patients following surgery and platinum chemotherapy. This treatment aims to reduce the chance of the cancer returning.
In a 2021 clinical trial involving 270 participants with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer that had not responded well to platinum-based chemotherapy, Opdivo showed promising results. Disease-free survival was significantly longer in individuals who took Opdivo, with a median survival time of 22.9 months compared to 13.7 months for those taking a placebo.
The drug demonstrated measurable tumor shrinkage in 52 participants, with 46 having a partial response and 6 having a complete response. This suggests that Opdivo may extend the life of a person with the most common type of bladder cancer by 9 months.
Opdivo works by preventing PD-1 and PD-L1 from binding together. PD-1 is a protein on the surface of T cells that helps keep the immune system in check, while PD-L1 is another protein that some types of cancer cells have. When PD-1 binds to PD-L1, it prevents T cells from killing cancer cells in the body. Inhibitors like Opdivo prevent this binding, allowing the body's T cells to kill cancer cells.
However, Opdivo is not without its side effects. Common side effects include fatigue or feeling tired, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, skin rash or itching, decreased appetite, low blood cell counts, abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy symptoms, liver abnormalities, endocrine effects, and high blood pressure. Some side effects can be serious and life-threatening, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, hypopituitarism, pneumonitis, myocarditis, and liver inflammation.
Doctors might recommend Opdivo adjuvant therapy for people who have undergone surgery for bladder cancer, have a high risk of cancer recurrence, and had previously received platinum chemotherapy that was ineffective. It's important to note that Opdivo may also induce conditions that require a person to take hormones permanently.
Opdivo comes in a liquid form and is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It is also a treatment for other types of cancer such as Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, melanoma, renal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer of the neck and head, malignant pleural mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, and more. For bladder cancer, Opdivo is given every 2 or 4 weeks.
In summary, nivolumab adjuvant therapy is an important option for bladder cancer patients at high risk after surgery and platinum chemotherapy, offering improved outcomes but accompanied by known immune-related and chemotherapy-related side effects. It's crucial for patients to discuss the potential benefits and risks with their healthcare providers.
- The FDA has approved the use of Opdivo, a PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy drug, as an adjuvant therapy for high-risk bladder cancer patients after surgery and platinum chemotherapy, aiming to reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence.
- In a 2021 clinical trial, Opdivo showed promising results for advanced or metastatic bladder cancer patients who had not responded well to platinum-based chemotherapy, with disease-free survival lasting significantly longer and suggesting an extension of life by 9 months.
- Despite the potential benefits, Opdivo is not without side effects, including fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, skin rash, low blood cell counts, liver abnormalities, endocrine effects, and high blood pressure, some of which can be serious and life-threatening.
- Medical-conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and certain nervous system, liver, and heart complications may arise from taking Opdivo, making it essential for patients to discuss potential risks with their healthcare providers.
- Aside from being a treatment for bladder cancer, Opdivo is also used to treat other medical-conditions like Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal cancer, melanoma, and various other types of cancer, with therapies and treatments varying based on cancer type and patient response.
