Cancer

Study: Immunotherapy Keeps 85% Bladder Cancer Patients Surgery-Free

Is this a major advance for bladder cancer or a treatment with tradeoffs?

Published 1 day ago

Study: Immunotherapy Keeps 85% Bladder Cancer Patients Surgery-Free

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Above: The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) taking place in Chicago, May 29 to June 2. Image credit: Yüksel Ürün/X

The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

This drug is a game-changer for bladder cancer patients, keeping 85% surgery-free after one year compared to just 60% with standard treatment. Avoiding bladder removal means dodging devastating side effects like lifelong stoma bags that upend daily life. This breakthrough has real potential to become the new standard of care.

Guardian The Sun

Techno-skeptic narrative

The durvalumab hype glosses over the real numbers — only eight extra patients per 100 avoid recurrence at two years, meaning 13 people must be treated for just one to benefit. On top of that, severe side effects increase by 8-10% and serious immune complications hit roughly 68 out of 100 patients. Long-term survival data hasn't matured yet, so calling this a definitive breakthrough is premature.

Edward Calleja