Medical Information News from the world of science for patients with bladder cancer
The POTOMAC trial showed that adding a new drug (durvalumab) to standard BCG therapy significantly prolongs the time without disease recurrence in patients with high-risk bladder cancer.
Participants: 1018 patients after removal of a bladder tumour (high-risk NMIBC).
Aim: To find a more effective way of preventing the cancer from coming back.
Methods compared: Standard BCG therapy versus BCG combined with durvalumab.
Key results:
- Greater effectiveness: The drug combination reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 32%.
- Longer protection: Patients receiving durvalumab with BCG experienced a return of the cancer less often.
- Lasting effect: In most patients in both groups, the disease had not returned by the end of follow-up.
What does this mean for patients?
- A new opportunity: Combination therapy gives better results than BCG alone.
- Lower risk: The combination of drugs protects more effectively against metastases and disease progression.
- Dosing schedule: Durvalumab was given every 4 weeks for 13 cycles.