bladder-cancer

Low albumin before avelumab immunotherapy predicts poor survival in bladder cancer patients.

In 59 mUC patients on maintenance avelumab, hypoalbuminemia was the only independent predictor of poor PFS (HR 2.70, p=0.013). Hypoalbuminemia patients had median PFS of 3.3 vs. 12.0 months and OS of 9.3 months vs. not reached compared to normal albumin patients.

Dan Manning

Dan Manning

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Low albumin before avelumab immunotherapy predicts poor survival in bladder cancer patients.

Low albumin before avelumab immunotherapy predicts poor survival in bladder cancer patients.

In 59 mUC patients on maintenance avelumab, hypoalbuminemia was the only independent predictor of poor PFS (HR 2.70, p=0.013). Hypoalbuminemia patients had median PFS of 3.3 vs. 12.0 months and OS of 9.3 months vs. not reached compared to normal albumin patients.

Key Findings

  • Hypoalbuminemia: only independent predictor of poor PFS with avelumab (HR 2.70)
  • Hypoalbuminemia PFS: 3.3 vs. 12.0 months (normal albumin)
  • Hypoalbuminemia OS: 9.3 months vs. not reached
  • Multicenter real-world database (n=59)
  • Nutritional status preservation may optimize immunotherapy efficacy

Implications

Nutritional assessment should be integrated into mUC management before initiating avelumab. Low albumin may identify patients needing nutritional support or alternative strategies.

Caveats

Small retrospective study (n=59); abstract-only. Association does not establish causation.

Source: International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association — 2026-04-01

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