Novel molecular targets for the therapy of urothelial cancer

First-line platinum-based chemotherapy combinations are considered standard-of-care in locally advanced and metastatic urothelial cancer. However, longterm outcomes, including disease-specific and overall survival, remain poor. In addition, a number of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma have co-existing medical issues that preclude the use of conventional chemotherapy. Improvements in our understanding over the molecular mechanisms of urothelial cancer have led to first-generation clinical trials evaluating novel agents targeting molecular pathways that may be relevant, at least in sub-populations. Emerging information regarding outcome with agents targeting novel molecular targets in advanced urothelial cancer is discussed in this review.