ASCO 2026 has officially opened, featuring 518 major studies in genitourinary oncology, with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) emerging as one of the most exciting areas of progress. Among them, enfortumab vedotin (EV), a Nectin-4-targeting ADC, was the subject of 36 presentations, continuing to drive transformative changes in the treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma (UC).

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is rapidly expanding from the first-line treatment of advanced disease into the perioperative setting, fundamentally reshaping the treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma (UC). As global research momentum continues to accelerate, Chinese-developed immunotherapy–ADC combinations are emerging as important contributors to this evolving field.

Recently, the team led by Professor Nengwang Yu from the Department of Urology at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University published a research article entitled “Spermine oxidase-DOX conjugates reshape tumor microenvironment via carbonyl stress to potentiate bladder cancer chemotherapy” in Materials Today Bio (CAS Q1; Impact Factor: 10.2).

In recent years, rapid advances in surgical robotics and information technology have enabled remote robotic surgery to transcend geographic barriers and redefine the future of surgical care. At the same time, China’s innovative drug development efforts have achieved major international milestones. The phase III RC48-C016 study evaluating toripalimab plus disitamab vedotin (DV) as first-line treatment for urothelial carcinoma was published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), marking a landmark achievement for Chinese oncology research.

The 2026 CUDA Yanqi Lake Urology Academic Conference was successfully held, bringing together leading urologists, clinical experts, and researchers from across China. Centered on the theme “Innovation Empowering Clinical Care, Collaboration Driving Progress,” the meeting featured in-depth discussions on key topics including advances in urologic oncology, translational innovation at the intersection of medicine and engineering, and expanding access to high-quality healthcare resources.

Urothelial carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies of the urinary tract, with bladder cancer representing its most prevalent subtype. In recent years, immunotherapy has offered new hope for patients with advanced disease. However, not all patients derive meaningful benefit.

On May 21, 2026, a research team led by Professor Zhuowei Liu, Dr. Zikun Ma, and Associate Research Fellow Xiaoyu Liang from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center published a study in Cancer Cell entitled “Endocytic Escape Drives Tumor Resistance to Antibody–Drug Conjugate Therapy.” The study systematically characterized the adaptive remodeling processes underlying resistance to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using humanized mouse models, single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.

For many years, platinum-based chemotherapy has remained the standard first-line treatment for urothelial carcinoma, yet outcomes have remained suboptimal. As targeted therapies and immunotherapy continue to advance rapidly, there is growing demand for more effective precision treatment strategies.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for a substantially higher proportion of urothelial carcinoma cases in China than in Western populations. Although radical nephroureterectomy remains the standard treatment for UTUC, many patients become ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy after surgery because of impaired renal function and other comorbidities. Furthermore, subgroup analyses from three major adjuvant immunotherapy trials have failed to demonstrate a significant disease-free survival (DFS) benefit in patients with UTUC, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies.

For nearly four decades, platinum-based chemotherapy has remained the standard first-line treatment for urothelial carcinoma (UC). However, its limitations—including modest survival outcomes and significant treatment-related toxicity—have persisted as major clinical challenges.