Thomas Powles

Thomas Powles, MD is Professor of Genitourinary Oncology and Director of Barts Cancer Centre at Queen Mary University of London. He is a leading international authority on urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma clinical trials, best known for leading the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial—the phase III study that established avelumab maintenance therapy as the first immune switch maintenance strategy to significantly improve overall survival in advanced urothelial carcinoma following platinum-based chemotherapy. This paradigm introduced the concept of maintenance immunotherapy following first-line chemotherapy in bladder cancer, creating a new treatment paradigm that is now incorporated into global guidelines. Dr. Powles is one of the most prolific investigators in bladder cancer, having led or co-led more than 30 practice-changing trials. He has also contributed extensively to the development of FGFR inhibitors, HER2-targeted therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates in urothelial carcinoma. His work in RCC includes evaluation of MET and PD-L1 biomarkers in response prediction. Professor Powles has chaired the ESMO Bladder Cancer Guidelines and is a past recipient of the ESMO Distinguished Contribution to Oncology Award.