Repurposing spironolactone to treat bladder cancer inside the bladder
Official title: Repurpose spironolactone for intravesical treatment in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11420769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to repurpose spironolactone as an intravesical treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer to help prevent recurrence and progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,112 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA315103-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who are considering intravesical therapies and may benefit from alternative or adjunctive treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer or those unable to receive intravesical therapies may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on improving therapies for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, a common form of bladder cancer treated directly in the bladder. Researchers will explore how spironolactone could be delivered into the bladder to work alongside existing treatments that are limited by shortages and resistance. The work will involve new models and methods to study how spironolactone affects cancer cells and the bladder environment, aiming to identify practical approaches for use in patients. If successful, this could lead to options that reduce the need for more invasive surgery and improve bladder cancer control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a new intravesical therapy option that lowers recurrence and delays progression of high-risk NMIBC.
How similar studies have gone: Prior intravesical chemotherapy strategies have shown mixed results; this work builds on existing approaches by repurposing a well-known drug for local bladder treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Qiang — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Li, Qiang
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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.