Cruciferous vegetable program to lower bladder cancer recurrence
Official title: A scalable cruciferous vegetable intervention to reduce bladder cancer recurrence and progression
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11299514 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,230 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA296175-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299514 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
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Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yeary, Karen Hye-Cheon Kim — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Yeary, Karen Hye-Cheon Kim
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Using cruciferous vegetables to help prevent bladder cancer from coming back
This study is looking at whether eating more cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and kale, can help people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer lower their chances of the cancer coming back or getting worse, and it’s designed for patients who want to try a natural way to support their health through diet.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.