Clinical Research Directory

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

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.

Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, Gemcitabine, to Usual Treatment (BCG Alone) in People Whose Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Came Back After Prior BCG Therapy

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding gemcitabine to intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) versus intravesical BCG alone in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. Intravesical BCG is a solution containing the live BCG bacteria that is placed in the bladder via a catheter (intravesical). When the solution comes into direct contact with the bladder wall, it stimulates the body's immune system which kills tumor cells. Giving gemcitabine with intravesical BCG may kill more tumor cells in patients with recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Quality of Life After Treatment for Bladder Cancer: The Bladder Cancer Survivorship Study

This study evaluates the effect of bladder cancer treatment on quality of life.

In-home Intravesical Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer, INVITE Trial

This phase Ib/II trial compares the safety, tolerability and acceptability of intravesical chemotherapy given at home to in-clinic administration in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), gemcitabine, docetaxel, and mitomycin C, 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. Standard of care chemotherapy for non-invasive bladder cancer is usually given directly into the bladder through a catheter (intravesical). This process requires numerous visits and can be disruptive to the lives of patients and caregivers. Bringing cancer care to the patients with in-home intravesical therapy may help reduce the disruption to daily lives. In-home intravesical chemotherapy may be safe and tolerable and may also be preferable to in-clinic administration in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

PLZ4-Coated Paclitaxel-Loaded Micelles for the Treatment of Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of PLZ4-coated paclitacel-loaded micelles (PPM) in treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or that does not respond to treatment (refractory). PPM is a bladder cancer-specific nanoparticle that can specifically target and deliver treatment to the tumor cells in the bladder. PPM contains paclitaxel, which is a drug that kills tumor cells or keeps them from growing.

IDO and PD-L1 Peptide Based Immune-Modulatory Therapeutic (IO102-IO103) in Combination With Pembrolizumab for BCG-Unresponsive or Intolerant, Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety and side effects of a PD-L1/IDO peptide vaccine (IO102-IO103) in combination with pembrolizumab in treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. IO102-IO103 is a novel IDO and PD-L1 peptide based immune-modulatory therapeutic. It is designed to activate the patient's own immune cells (called T-cells) to fight the tumor and stop the tumor cells escaping from the body's immune system. IO102-IO103 works to directly kill tumor cells and remove the body's immune suppressive cells, which are cells that prevent the immune system from fighting the tumor. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab may make tumor cells more visible/recognizable to the immune system.

Home-Based Physical Activity Program With Digital App Versus Health Education Group for Improving Physical Activity Among Patients With Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, The EMPOWER Trial

This clinical trial compares how well a home-based personalized physical activity program (PAP) that is delivered by a digital application (app) (the ExerciseRx app) works compared to health education in improving physical activity for patients with bladder cancer that has not reached the muscle wall of the bladder (non-muscle invasive). For people who are not physically active, previous studies have shown that increasing step counts can reduce incidence of death, reduce frailty, and reduce healthcare costs. The ExerciseRx app tracks adherence to home exercise, adapts step count goals based on the patient's progress, and provides encouraging feedback and motivation from the healthcare team. Additional features include activity summaries, progress towards current goal, nudges, helpful facts about the benefits of activity, and ideas for how to incorporate daily movement. A home-based PAP using the ExerciseRx app may work better in increasing physical activity among patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer compared to a health education only group.

A Cruciferous Vegetable Eating Program for the Reduction of Cancer Recurrence and Progression in Patients With Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

This phase II trial is being done to develop and test a healthy eating program to reduce cancer recurrence (cancer that has come back after a period of improvement) and/or progression (cancer that is growing, spreading, or getting worse) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Researchers want to better understand how incorporating more cruciferous vegetables in the diet may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or progression in men and women who were diagnosed with early-stage bladder cancer and compare whether extending the program can further improve bladder cancer outcomes. POW-R Health is a behavioral dietary intervention designed to modestly increase cruciferous vegetable (cruciferae) intake in patients. Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, kale and broccoli, arugula, contain phytochemicals known as isothiocyanates (ITCs). Dietary ITCs exert potent anticancer activities against bladder cancer and can be rapidly metabolized, delivered to the bladder, and concentrated in the urine. Participating in the healthy eating program may reduce bladder cancer recurrence or progression in NMIBC survivors.