Neoadjuvant Therapy in Cisplatin-Ineligible Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions in the Era of TAR-200 and Enfortumab Vedotin Plus Pembrolizumab
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy remains the standard of care for patients with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are eligible for cisplatin. However, many patients cannot receive cisplatin because of renal dysfunction, frailty, neuropathy, ototoxicity, or comorbidities, leaving an unmet need for effective cisplatin-free perioperative options. Single-arm phase 2 studies of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown encouraging pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in patients who are ineligible for cisplatin or who decline it, and randomized survival evidence has only recently begun to mature. Two conceptually distinct cisplatin-free paradigms are now shaping the field: (1) systemic intensification with perioperative enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab, an antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) plus programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor regimen supported by phase 3 data; and (2) bladder-centered intensification with TAR-200 (intravesical sustained-release gemcitabine) combined with systemic PD-1 blockade, which has demonstrated promising pathologic activity in early-phase studies but remains investigational in MIBC. This narrative review summarizes the evolving perioperative evidence base across traditional NAC, neoadjuvant ICI monotherapy, ADC–ICI combinations, and locoregional drug delivery approaches; highlights key interpretive challenges including heterogeneous trial populations and endpoints and the limitations of cross-trial comparisons; and discusses future directions such as response-adapted escalation and de-escalation strategies using circulating tumor DNA and urinary tumor DNA. We present a conceptual framework for future prospective trials evaluating how systemic and bladder-centered strategies might be selected and sequenced, rather than definitive guidance for routine clinical practice. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is often treated with removal of the bladder. In people whose cancer has not spread, giving chemotherapy before surgery can improve cure rates. The most effective chemotherapy uses cisplatin, but many people cannot receive cisplatin because of kidney problems, hearing loss, nerve damage, heart disease, or other illnesses. This review summarizes new cisplatin-free options being studied before and after surgery. One option combines enfortumab vedotin with pembrolizumab, two medicines that travel through the bloodstream and target cancer in the body. In a large clinical trial, this combination improved outcomes compared with surgery alone in people who could not receive cisplatin. Another option aims to treat the tumor mainly inside the bladder. It uses TAR-200, a small device placed in the bladder that slowly releases the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, together with an immunotherapy medicine. Early results show promising tumor responses, but this approach is still experimental for muscle-invasive disease. We also discuss “liquid biopsies”, which measure tumor DNA in blood or urine. These tests may help identify who needs more treatment after surgery and who can safely avoid extra side effects. Future studies must compare these strategies and confirm the best way to choose and sequence treatments.
Source: Oncology and Therapy
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $7,400
OpenAlex ID: W7130846396