TriangleHEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING
Ramucirumab
Source: Bladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 2, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary.
Ramucirumab is an immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that blocks the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). The FDA approved ramucirumab for patients with gastric carcinoma and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, but not for patients with bladder cancer.
Evidence (ramucirumab):
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
Source links and citations
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
OS was not significantly different between the two arms.
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
The median PFS was 1.3 months (39 days) longer in the ramucirumab arm compared with the placebo arm (4.1 months vs. 2.8 months; HR, 0.696; 95% CI, 0.573–0.845, P = .0002).
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
The overall response rate was 26% in the ramucirumab arm and 14% in the placebo arm.
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
Treatment was discontinued because of adverse events in 19% of patients who received docetaxel plus ramucirumab and 8% of patients who received docetaxel plus placebo.
Docetaxel chemotherapy plus ramucirumab was compared with docetaxel plus placebo in a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial in 530 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Forty-five patients (8.5%) had previously been treated with immunotherapy.[53][Level of evidence B1]
Grade 3 or higher adverse events were reported in 48% of patients in the ramucirumab arm and 41% of patients in the placebo arm. Adverse events included febrile neutropenia, epistaxis, hypertension, hematuria, and proteinuria. Sepsis occurred in 2% of patients who received ramucirumab, and no patients who received placebo.
Publication references
Read the original reference and check its publication notices.
Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice