OBJECTIVES: To update a systematic review and meta-analysis that assesses the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: Following a prespecified protocol, we analysed updated individual patient data from all eligible randomised controlled trials that compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus local treatment with the same local treatment alone. RESULTS: Updated results are based on 11 trials, 3005 patients; comprising 98% of all patients from known eligible randomised controlled trials. We found a significant survival benefit associated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (HR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.95, p = 0.003). This is equivalent to a 5% absolute improvement in survival at 5 years. There was also a significant disease-free survival benefit associated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (HR = 0.78 95% CI 0.71-0.86, p < 0.0001), equivalent to a 9% absolute improvement at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide the best available evidence in support of the use of neoadjuvant platinum-based combination chemotherapy.