Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Pembrolizumab, to the Usual Intravesical Chemotherap… (NCT04164082) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingPhase 2
Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Pembrolizumab, to the Usual Intravesical Chemotherapy Treatment (Gemcitabine) for the Treatment of BCG-Unresponsive Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
United States, Guam, Puerto Rico161 participantsStarted 2020-03-18
Plain-language summary
This phase II trial studies the effect of adding pembrolizumab to gemcitabine in treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer whose cancer does not respond to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the patient's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Adding pembrolizumab to gemcitabine may delay the return of BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer for longer period compared to gemcitabine alone.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* High grade Ta, T1 or CIS urothelial carcinoma. Accrual of patients with Ta or T1 disease may be closed to ensure adequate patients enrollment to meet the primary endpoint
* Persistent disease (defined as not achieving disease free status) after completing therapy with at least induction BCG (\>= 5 doses) and the first round of maintenance or second induction course (\>= 2 doses). The subsequent round of BCG, either maintenance or repeat induction, must be given within 6 months of initial induction BCG
* Persistent high risk NMIBC (T1, high grade Ta and/or CIS) must be within 9 months of the last BCG instillation despite having received adequate BCG as defined above.
* Registration must be within 12 months of last BCG instillation
* High grade T1 after completing therapy with at least induction BCG (\>= 5 doses) or after completing therapy with at least induction BCG (\>= 5 doses) and first round of maintenance or second induction course (\>= 2 doses). The subsequent round of BCG, either maintenance or repeat induction, must be given within 6 months of initial induction BCG
* Disease recurrence (T1) must be within 9 months of the last BCG instillation despite having received adequate BCG as defined above
* Registration must be within 12 months of last BCG instillation
* Mixed variant histology (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) is eligible, but pure variant histology is ineligible
* Patients who are disease free at 6 months after starting …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Complete response rate in the carcinoma in situ (CIS) subpopulation
Timeframe: At 6 months (end of cycle 8, week 25)
2
Event-free survival at 18 months
Timeframe: From the date of study registration to the first documentation of an event or death whichever comes first, assessed up to 18 months