Danish Bladder Cancer Group 23: European effort on cancer in the upper urinary tract
Official title: DaBlaCa 23 - The European Collaborative Study on Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
Run by Zealand University Hospital · NCT07077447 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 2500 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Zealand University Hospital Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 5 sites (Aarhus N and 4 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 26, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2030 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2040 |
| Registry record updated | December 22, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07077447 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Department of Urology, Zealand University Hospital
Roskilde, Denmark Recruiting -
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 -
Haukeland University Hospital
Bergen, Norway Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Juan L Vásquez, MD, PhD
- Email: julv@regionsjaelland.dk
- Phone: +45 28947015
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
UGN-104 treatment for low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer
This Phase 3 trial tests whether weekly UGN-104 instillations can clear low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer in patients with small papillary tumors in the renal pelvis.
-
Combining DV and Toripalimab for Kidney Preservation in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma
This study is testing a new combination treatment of DV and toripalimab to see if it can help people with kidney problems and bladder cancer keep their kidneys while treating their cancer.
-
Adjuvant disitamab vedotin plus radiotherapy for HER2‑overexpressing upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma with high recurrence risk
This study will try whether adding disitamab vedotin to radiotherapy after surgery helps people with HER2‑positive upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma who are at high risk of recurrence.
-
Observing cancer relapse and quality of life after kidney surgery
This study looks at how kidney surgery affects cancer relapse and the overall quality of life for patients with a specific type of urinary tract cancer.
-
Combining RC48 and Tislelizumab for kidney preservation in high-risk UTUC patients
This study is testing a new combination of two treatments, RC48 and Tislelizumab, to see if they can help protect the kidneys in patients with high-risk upper urinary tract cancer.
-
Urinary Cell-Free DNA Test for Urothelial Cancer Origin
This study tests a urine-based cell-free DNA test to help diagnose urothelial cancer and identify whether it started in the bladder or upper urinary tract in adults.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.