Bicalutamide for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

A Randomized Trial of Bicalutamide in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

This trial tests whether the anti-androgen drug bicalutamide changes EGFR protein expression in adult men with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: Male
• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation
• Locations: 6 sites (Tucson, Arizona and 5 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT05521698 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized Phase I trial comparing bicalutamide to no study drug in biologic male adults with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Participants undergo standard procedures such as transurethral resection/biopsy and bladder wash cytology, with tissue and wash samples collected before and after treatment. The primary endpoint is EGFR mRNA expression in normal-appearing urothelium adjacent to tumor measured by RT-PCR, with secondary and exploratory analyses including AR and EGFR protein/IHC correlations, Ki-67, and toxicity comparisons. The goal is to determine whether short-term anti-androgen therapy alters molecular markers associated with disease progression to inform future trials.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Biologic male adults (>=18 years) with suspected or newly diagnosed non-muscle invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma, no evidence of invasive or metastatic disease on recent imaging, and who can undergo TURBT/biopsy at a participating center are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Biologic females, patients with invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, minors under 18, or those unable to undergo required biopsies/procedures are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the drug could alter biomarker patterns linked to progression and guide future treatments that may reduce recurrence or progression risk.

How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work and limited clinical data suggest androgen receptor blockade can influence EGFR and tumor behavior, but use of bicalutamide specifically in NMIBC is novel with limited prior clinical evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Biologic male adults (\>= 18 years old)

  * Note: Because no dosing or adverse event (AE) data are currently available on the use of bicalutamide in participants \< 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study but will be eligible for future pediatric trials, if applicable
* Have suspected non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (NMIBC) on clinic-based cystoscopy or imaging as viewed by an American Urological Association (AUA) board-certified urologist
* Have had cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and pelvis (computed tomography \[CT\] or magnetic resonance imaging \[MRI\] with or without contrast) within 6 months prior to enrollment with no signs of upper tract urothelial cancer (UC), invasive, nor metastatic disease

  * Note: If adenopathy or upper tract abnormalities are identified, a negative biopsy and or ureteroscopy is required prior to enrollment
* Newly suspected, diagnosed, or occasionally recurrent bladder cancer (BC)

  * Note: Occasional recurrence is defined as =\< 2 prior NMIBC episodes in the 18 months preceding cystoscopy where the index tumor was identified
* Participants with single and multiple tumor lesions
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 1
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (note: in participants with Gilbert's syndrome, if total bilirubin is \> 1.5 x upper limit of normal, measure direct and indirect bilirubin and if direct bilirubin is =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal, participants may be eligible)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) =\< 2 × institutional upper limit of normal
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2 × institutional upper limit of normal
* Urine Culture \< 50,000 colonies/cc of 1 or more organisms (if found and treated and a confirmed negative culture obtained off antibiotics before study drug is started, they will be eligible)
* Serum Testosterone \>= 250 ng/dL
* Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) within institutional normal
* White blood cell count (WBC) \>= 0.5 × institutional lower limit of normal
* The effects of bicalutamide on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason, men who are having sex must wear a condom when engaging in any activity that allows for passage of ejaculate to another person throughout the course of the study and 130 days after receiving last dose of study intervention. Male participants should also be advised of the benefit for a female partner to use a highly effective method of contraception as a condom may break or leak. Additionally, men must agree to not donate sperm for the purpose of reproduction during the study and for a minimum of 130 days after receiving the last dose of study intervention
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants who have had a previous exposure to sex hormone (e.g., exogenous androgens) or anti-androgenic therapies (e.g., luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone \[LHRH\] agonists, LHRH antagonists, 5 alpha reductase-inhibitors, abiraterone or other anti-androgens) within 6 months of accrual
* Participants taking Coumarin derivative anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin). Other anticoagulation medications are allowed.
* Participants receiving any other investigational agents.
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to bicalutamide.
* History of prior or concurrent muscle invading UC, or concurrent prostatic urethral, urethral, or upper tract UC or non-urothelial bladder cancer
* History of radiation therapy to the pelvis, prostate or prostatic bed, or rectum
* Any condition (uncontrolled intercurrent illness, psychiatric illness, or social situation) for which, in the opinion of the investigator, participation would not be in the best interest of the participant (e.g., compromise the well-being) or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments.
* Participants with severe or unstable angina, myocardial infarction, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, recent arterial or venous thromboembolic events (e.g. pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attacks) for which anticoagulation therapy is ongoing, or clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias.
* In the opinion of the investigator, participant has underlying uncontrolled hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
* Allergy or hypersensitivity to bicalutamide, or excipients, unable or unwilling to take ADT.
* Plans to father a child while enrolled in this study or within 130 days after the last dose of study intervention.

Where this trial is running

Tucson, Arizona and 5 other locations

• University of Arizona Cancer Center - Prevention Research Clinic — Tucson, Arizona, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Cedars Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, California, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• National Cancer Institute Urologic Oncology Branch — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Rochester — Rochester, New York, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center - University Hospital — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Edward M Messing — University of Wisconsin, Madison

Conditions Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma; Recurrent Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma