Bladder (Urothelial, Transitional Cell) Cancer, Non Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), Liquid biopsy, Immunotherapy
Brief summary
Patients with extensive transurethrally unresectable very-high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) may achieve a tumor-free status after systemic immunotherapy-based bladder-sparing treatment combined with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). However, the optimal duration of systemic immunotherapy after achieving a tumor-free status remains uncertain. Prolonged treatment may increase toxicity, treatment burden, and cost, while some patients may maintain durable disease control without continued therapy. This randomized study aims to evaluate whether active surveillance after achieving tumor-free status is a feasible alternative to continued systemic immunotherapy in patients with extensive transurethrally unresectable very-high-risk NMIBC. Patients will initially receive systemic immunotherapy-based treatment followed by disease evaluation using cystoscopy with biopsy and/or TURBT, urine cytology, urinary tumor DNA (utDNA), and imaging assessments. Patients who achieve tumor-free status after treatment and complete resection of visible disease will be randomized to either active surveillance or continued systemic immunotherapy. The study will evaluate recurrence outcomes, bladder preservation, progression, safety, and patient management strategies following achievement of tumor-free status. The trial also aims to explore the role of urinary tumor DNA in identifying patients who may safely undergo treatment de-escalation and active surveillance.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALActive Surveillance
Patients undergo protocol-defined surveillance after achieving tumor-free status, including cystoscopy, biopsy as clinically indicated, urine cytology, urinary tumor DNA testing, and imaging assessments, without continued systemic PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy unless disease recurrence or progression occurs.
DRUGPD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor-Based Systemic Immunotherapy
Patients continue protocol-defined systemic PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy after achieving tumor-free status for up to approximately 1 year, with ongoing surveillance including cystoscopy, urine cytology, urinary tumor DNA testing, and imaging assessments.
Sponsors
Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Patients with extensive transurethrally unresectable very-high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer will initially receive systemic PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy-based bladder-sparing treatment followed by disease evaluation. Patients achieving tumor-free status after treatment, TURBT, and/or complete resection of visible disease will be randomized in parallel to active surveillance or continued systemic immunotherapy. Randomization will occur within two predefined cohorts based on response status at initial disease evaluation.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Has histologically confirmed very-high-risk non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. * Has transurethrally unresectable bladder tumor, defined as visually incomplete TURBT and/or extensive high-volume disease considered unsuitable for complete and oncologically adequate transurethral resection. * Has undergone cystoscopy and TURBT evaluation before study enrollment. * Has received systemic PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based bladder-sparing therapy before randomization. * Has achieved tumor-free status before randomization, defined as: 1. No visible bladder tumor on cystoscopy; 2. Negative bladder biopsy and/or TURBT pathology; 3. Negative urine cytology; 4. Negative urinary tumor DNA (utDNA); 5. No radiographic evidence of progression or metastasis. * Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2. * Has adequate organ function. * Has provided written informed consent. Cohort A Only * Achieved tumor-free status at the initial response evaluation after induction systemic therapy. * Maintained tumor-free status after additional systemic therapy before randomization. Cohort B Only * Did not achieve tumor-free status at the initial response evaluation because of residual non-muscle-invasive disease. * Subsequently underwent complete TURBT/resection of residual disease followed by additional systemic therapy. * Achieved tumor-free status at the second response evaluation before randomization.
Exclusion criteria
* Has muscle-invasive bladder cancer (≥T2), locally advanced unresectable disease, nodal disease, or distant metastasis. * Has concurrent upper tract urothelial carcinoma. * Has persistent visible tumor, positive bladder pathology, positive urine cytology, or positive utDNA before randomization. * Has received prior systemic immunotherapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. * Has active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment. * Is receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy. * Has uncontrolled infection requiring systemic therapy. * Has another active malignancy requiring systemic treatment. * Has known active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus infection, or active tuberculosis. * Has pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Has any medical or psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with study participation or interpretation of results.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bladder-intact event-free survival (BI-EFS) | Up to 2 years from randomization | Time from randomization to the first occurrence of high-risk NMIBC recurrence, progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer, distant metastasis, radical cystectomy, or death from any cause. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recurrence-free survival (RFS) | Up to 2 years from randomization | Time from randomization to the first documented recurrence of bladder cancer or death from any cause. |
| Progression-free survival (PFS) | Up to 2 years from randomization | Time from randomization to progression to muscle-invasive, locally advanced, or metastatic bladder cancer, or death from any cause. |
| Radical cystectomy-free survival (RCFS) | Up to 2 years from randomization | Time from randomization to radical cystectomy or death from any cause. |
| Overall survival (OS) | Up to 2 years from randomization | Time from randomization to death from any cause. |
| Incidence of treatment-related adverse events | Up to 2 years from randomization | Proportion of patients experiencing treatment-related adverse events, graded according to CTCAE. |
Countries
China
Contacts
CONTACTHailong Hu, MD
CONTACTYunkai Qie, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHailong Hu, MD
Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University
Outcome results
None listed