Danish Bladder Cancer Group 23: European effort on cancer in the upper urinary tract
DaBlaCa 23 - The European Collaborative Study on Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
This project will see if kidney-sparing surgery can be used safely for adults with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma instead of removing the entire kidney and ureter.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 2500 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Zealand University Hospital Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 5 sites (Aarhus N and 4 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07077447 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational cohort across major Danish urology centers enrolling adults with histologically confirmed upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The study documents diagnostic work-up (CT urography, urine cytology, flexible ureteroscopy and biopsy), treatment choices including kidney-sparing surgery (KSS) for selected patients, and follow-up outcomes such as recurrence, survival, and kidney function. Data will be collected on patients who meet updated European Association of Urology criteria, including some features formerly classified as high-risk, to compare real-world safety and oncologic outcomes of KSS. The study aims to inform which patients can safely avoid radical nephroureterectomy while maintaining cancer control.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (age ≥18) with histopathologically confirmed UTUC who are willing and able to give informed consent are eligible, especially those being considered for kidney-sparing surgery under updated guideline criteria.
Not a fit: Patients with metastatic disease, those who require immediate radical nephroureterectomy for uncontrolled local disease, or anyone unable to attend the participating centers or follow-up are unlikely to benefit from the kidney-sparing approach examined here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could allow more patients to keep their kidneys and preserve long-term kidney function without worsening cancer outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller cohorts and guideline updates support KSS for low-risk UTUC, but using KSS for selected higher-risk features is relatively recent and has less long-term evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with confirmed histopathology of UTUC * Age ≥ 18 years * Informed patient consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patient not willing or able to give informed consent
Where this trial is running
Aarhus N and 4 other locations
- Department of Urology Aarhus University Hospital — Aarhus N, Denmark (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Herlev Gentofte Hospital — Herlev, Denmark (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Department of Urology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet — København Ø, Denmark (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Department of Urology, Zealand University Hospital — Roskilde, Denmark (Recruiting)
- Haukeland University Hospital — Bergen, Norway (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Juan L Vásquez, MD, PhD
- Email: julv@regionsjaelland.dk
- Phone: +45 28947015
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.