An immunotherapy drug called durvalumab has been shown to destroy bladder cancer and prevent its return, potentially eliminating the need for radical surgery.

A phase-two trial led by the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and funded by AstraZeneca and the University of Birmingham found that the immunotherapy drug durvalumab, added to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, spared 54 bladder cancer patients from bladder-removal surgery, with cancer not returning in 46 patients (85%) compared to 60% with chemo-radiotherapy alone.