Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41888732›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

Avelumab maintenance therapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma: subgroup analyses by characteristics of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy from a real-world chart review study in Japan (JAVEMACS).

Yuki Endo, Hiroshi Kitamura, Suguru Shirotake, Masaomi Ikeda, Kan Yonemori, Norihiko Kawamura, Atsuko Fujihara, Takashige Abe, Fumitaka Shimizu, Kiyohide Fujimoto and 17 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06412848 (A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study of Avelumab Maintenance and Subsequent Therapies in Japanese Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06412848 completednot on this map

A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study of Avelumab Maintenance and Subsequent Therapies in Japanese Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

TypeobservationalSponsorMerck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyRan2024 to 2026Enrolled360ConditionsUrothelial CarcinomaArmsAvelumab
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

27 authors.

Yuki EndoDepartment of Urology, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan. y-endo1@nms.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0787-9321
Hiroshi KitamuraDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
Suguru ShirotakeDepartment of Uro-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Saitama, Japan.
Masaomi IkedaDepartment of Urology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kan YonemoriDepartment of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-Ku,Tokyo, Japan.
Norihiko KawamuraDepartment of Urology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, Japan.
Atsuko FujiharaDepartment of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Takashige AbeDepartment of Renal and Genitourinary Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Fumitaka ShimizuDepartment of Urology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Kiyohide FujimotoDepartment of Urology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
Tohru NakagawaDepartment of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Shingo HatakeyamaDepartment of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Kiyoaki NishiharaDepartment of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Daiki IkarashiDepartment of Urology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate, Japan.
Naoya MasumoriDepartment of Urology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Sei NaitoDepartment of Urology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Kazutoshi FujitaDepartment of Urology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan.
Takuto HaraDivision of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
Noriyoshi MiuraDepartment of Urology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
Takahito NegishiDepartment of Urology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
Junji YatsudaDepartment of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan.
Mizuki KobayashiDepartment of Urology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Rikiya TaokaDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan.
Junya FurukawaDepartment of Urology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Michihiro ShonoMedical Department, Merck Biopharma Co., Ltd. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Takashi KobayashiDepartment of Urology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Eiji KikuchiDepartment of Urology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAvelumab maintenance therapy was approved in Japan in February 2021 for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC) without disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC). We report subgroup analyses from the JAVEMACS chart review study of avelumab maintenance therapy in Japan by characteristics of first-line (1L) PBC.

methodsThis multicenter, retrospective study collected data from medical charts of patients with la/mUC who received avelumab maintenance after 1L PBC. Protocol-specified subgroups defined by 1L PBC characteristics (PBC regimen, number of PBC cycles, and best overall response to PBC) were analyzed.

resultsBetween February 2021 and December 2023, 350 patients received avelumab maintenance. Patient characteristics were generally similar across subgroups defined by 1L PBC characteristics. In patients who received 1L gemcitabine + cisplatin (n = 196) or gemcitabine + carboplatin (n = 116), median overall survival (OS) was not reached (95% CI, 31.2 months-not estimable [NE]) and 24.3 months (95% CI, 19.5–30.6 months), respectively. In patients who received 1–3 cycles (n = 68), 4 cycles (n = 205), 5/6 cycles (n = 61), or ≥ 7 cycles (n = 16) of 1L PBC, median OS was 25.0 months (95% CI, 15.2 months-NE), not reached (95% CI, 29.3 months-NE), 31.2 months (95% CI, 18.0 months-NE), and 23.6 months (95% CI, 19.3 months-NE), respectively. In patients with complete response (n = 32), partial response (n = 180), or stable disease (n = 138) as best response to 1L PBC, median OS was not reached (95% CI, 30.6 months-NE), 31.2 months (95% CI, 22.6 months-NE), and 26.5 months (95% CI, 20.2 months-NE), respectively. Across all subgroups, enfortumab vedotin was the most common second-line treatment after discontinuation of avelumab.

conclusionsResults from these descriptive subgroup analyses from JAVEMACS suggest that real-world outcomes with avelumab maintenance therapy are generally consistent regardless of 1L PBC regimen, number of 1L PBC cycles, or best response to 1L PBC. These findings further support the use of avelumab maintenance therapy as a standard of care for patients with la/mUC without disease progression after 1L PBC.

trial registrationNCT06412848.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCarcinoma, Transitional CellUrologic NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overCarboplatinCisplatinDeoxycytidineFemaleGemcitabineHumansJapanMaintenance ChemotherapyMaleMiddle AgedAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedavelumabCarboplatinCisplatinDeoxycytidineGemcitabineAvelumabBladder cancerMaintenancePlatinum-based chemotherapyReal-world studyRetrospectiveUrothelial carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID41888732
PMCPMC13151371

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.