Urothelial cancer, also called bladder and urinary tract cancer, occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrolled in the urethra, bladder, ureters, renal pelvis, and other organs in the area. It’s easier to manage and cure the condition in the early stages. However, for metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC), treatments like KEYTRUDA® can be used. KEYTRUDA® is an FDA-approved treatment prescribed mainly in cases where the cancer is spreading and cannot be treated by surgery.

What is KEYTRUDA®?
KEYTRUDA® is a type of immunotherapy that helps the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. In other words, it helps the immune system recognize and attack cancerous cells. It is usually prescribed if the patient cannot receive chemotherapy that contains platinum. This can be because it’s ineffective or the patient is progressively less responsive to it.

How does KEYTRUDA® help with cancer?
The body’s built-in defense system, which is the immune system, sends T cells to find and destroy cancerous cells to protect the body from diseases. However, in cases like urothelial cancer, the cancer cells use a pathway called PD-1. This pathway lets them hide from the T cells, and the cancer cells trick the immune system. KEYTRUDA® mainly helps block this PD-1 pathway so that the cells can no longer hide and the immune system can fight against cancer.

How long is the treatment needed?
The treatment must be prescribed by a trained healthcare professional. The dosing may vary from one patient to another. In adults with certain cancers, KEYTRUDA® may be given every three or six weeks, depending on the dosage. For children, Keytruda may be given once every three weeks. Studies so far have shown that about half of the people who took KEYTRUDA®, along with other treatments, noted their cancer had stopped spreading or getting worse in about 12.5 months. When compared to chemotherapy, KEYTRUDA® resulted in tumor shrinking in about 29% of individuals, while only 12% experienced tumor shrinkage with chemotherapy.

Is KEYTRUDA® the right option?
To know whether KEYTRUDA® is right for one’s condition or stage of cancer, one needs to talk to their team of healthcare professionals. If one already has other immune system issues like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus, one should reveal the same to one’s doctor. Similarly, one should also discuss any transplants, radiation treatment in the chest, or any conditions that affect the nervous system. These issues may interfere with KEYTRUDA® as a treatment. Revealing these pre-existing conditions may also allow the doctor to combine KEYTRUDA® treatment with other therapies to ensure they are effective in managing urothelial cancer.

Patient Support Program with KEYTRUDA®
Those recommended KEYTRUDA® treatment can also benefit from the KEY+YOU Patient Support Program. The program offers educational information or resources so patients can receive emotional, physical, and practical support while undergoing treatment. Help is given though through phone, e-mail, and online activities.