Cruciferous vegetable program to lower bladder cancer recurrence

A scalable cruciferous vegetable intervention to reduce bladder cancer recurrence and progression

NIH-funded research Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11299514

This project will see if a simple program to boost cruciferous vegetable intake can help people with early-stage (non-muscle invasive) bladder cancer lower the chance their cancer comes back or gets worse.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRoswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Buffalo, United States)
Project IDNIH-11299514 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), this program helps you eat more cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, kale, and cabbage) and measures cancer‑fighting compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs) in your urine. Participants will be placed in one of two groups and followed over time while the team supports and monitors dietary changes and urine ITC levels. The team developed a prior POW‑R‑Health intervention that raised urinary ITC to levels that killed bladder cancer cells in the lab, and this trial focuses on keeping those levels up long term. Your visits will include dietary coaching and urine collections to track whether sustained higher ITC exposure links with fewer recurrences or progression.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer who are under surveillance after tumor removal, willing to change their diet, and able to provide urine samples are the likely candidates.

Not a fit: People with advanced or muscle‑invasive bladder cancer, those who cannot eat cruciferous vegetables due to allergies or medical restrictions, or those needing immediate alternative treatments may not benefit from this dietary program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce the chance of bladder cancer returning or progressing and lower the need for repeated tests and procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Preclinical and population studies and a prior POW‑R‑Health pilot raised urinary ITC to cancer‑killing levels, but long‑term benefits in randomized trials have not yet been proven.

Where this research is happening

Buffalo, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.