[Immunotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: research advances and perspectives].

Urothelial carcinoma is the common malignancy involving the urinary system. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the initial regimen of choice for cisplatin-eligible patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. However, due to toxicity, the regimen is not well tolerated in part of the patients, such as in elderly patients or those with multiple complications, and there is still a risk of recurrence. During the past years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become available as a new option for urothelial carcinoma patients, with the benefits of clinical efficacy and quality of life. Development and researches of the ICI axis blockade have changed the contemporary treatment paradigm for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. In addition, multiple clinical studies of combined treatment strategies of ICI have been explored recently. It is necessary to further understand the clinical value of ICI through summarizing the evidence supporting the use of checkpoint inhibitors for patients with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, which also may helpful to perspective the future research direction of combined strategies and precision medicine in urothelial carcinoma immunotherapy.