Intravesical gemcitabine followed by docetaxel for high-grade BCG-unresponsive NMIBC

Intravesical Gemcitabine and Docetaxel for High-Risk, BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study (GEMDOCE-BU)

This trial tests whether putting gemcitabine then docetaxel directly into the bladder can treat adults with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that did not respond to BCG.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 174 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 99 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Iowa (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation, chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Iowa City, Iowa)
• Trial ID: NCT07322263 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, two-arm Phase 2 study giving sequential intravesical gemcitabine immediately followed by docetaxel to adults with BCG-unresponsive high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Patients are enrolled into two cohorts: those with carcinoma in situ (with or without papillary tumors) and those with high-grade Ta/T1 papillary tumors without CIS. Efficacy is measured at about 3 months by complete response for CIS patients and by disease-free status for papillary patients, confirmed with cystoscopy, urine cytology, and biopsy as needed, and safety and toxicity are tracked throughout. The protocol allows a second 6-week induction for early recurrence and follows outcomes including recurrence-free, progression-free, and cystectomy-free survival.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with histologically confirmed high-grade non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder that is BCG-unresponsive (CIS ± Ta/T1 or high-grade Ta/T1 without CIS) and with all visible tumors completely resected within the protocol time window are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with muscle-invasive disease, confirmed upper-tract or prostatic urethral involvement, or those requiring immediate radical cystectomy are unlikely to benefit from this intravesical approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer an effective bladder-sparing alternative to immediate cystectomy for patients with BCG-unresponsive high-grade NMIBC.

How similar studies have performed: Single-arm series and early-phase reports of sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel have shown promising response rates in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, but randomized comparative data are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically confirmed diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder without synchronous or metachronous upper tract involvement or prostatic urethral involvement. Subjects with negative upper tract imaging within 6 months of the study start and visually normal prostates are potentially eligible. Those with a history of suspicious upper tract cytology or suspicious prostatic urethra visually will require additional upper tract washes and/or biopsies to rule out concurrent extravesical disease.

Eligible bladder cancer presentations include:

* Carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without non-muscle-invasive stage Ta or T1 tumors of any grade.
* High-Grade Papillary tumors (stages Ta and/or T1) without CIS.
* All visible bladder tumors must be completely resected within 8 weeks prior to initiating intravesical Gem/Doce therapy.
* If more than 8 weeks have passed since diagnosis or resection of index bladder CIS ± non-invasive tumor (pTa or T1 tumors), an office cystoscopy must be performed within 8 weeks of Gem/Doce initiation to confirm no visible tumor regrowth.

BCG-Unresponsive Disease as defined by any of the following FDA-accepted criteria:

* Occurrence of high-grade, stage T1 cancer after at least 5/6 weekly BCG induction treatments.
* Occurrence of CIS within 12 months, or high-grade papillary disease, stage Ta/T1, within 6 months after an "adequate" course of BCG therapy.

An "adequate" course of BCG includes at least 5/6 weekly BCG induction treatments and at least 2/3 weekly BCG maintenance or 2/6 weekly BCG re-induction treatments.

* N.B: Physician may have some flexibility (+/- 1 month) in the use of 6 and 12 months to define BCG-unresponsive NMIBC.
* N.B: Once a patient has been correctly defined as having BCG-unresponsive disease, they will be considered to always be BCG-unresponsive for the purpose of this study. In other words, there is no restriction as to when the BCG-unresponsive term was assigned.

  * The occurrence of low-grade (LG) Ta disease will not be considered a HG relapse event given its prognosis is much more favorable that HG disease. However, all LG tumor must be completely resected before continuing with Gemcitabine/Docetaxel therapy.
  * Subjects must be eligible for radical cystectomy and decline this standard of care treatment or not be a surgical candidate for radical cystectomy (as appropriate) based on other comorbidities.
  * All grossly visible disease in the bladder must be fully resected with pathologic stage and grade assessed at the local study institution. Local pathologists are strongly encouraged to use the current LG and HG AJCC criteria.

NB: For institutions that still use the 3-tiered grading system, Ta Gr1 and Gr 2 will be considered LG while any Ta Gr3 or T1 Gr2 or Gr3 will be considered HG.

* Patients enrolled in other clinical trials must have received their last treatment at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment if the treatment was an intravesical agent. If the treatment included a systemic immune-modulating agent (e.g. anti-PD(L)-1 or anti CTLA4) then at least two dosing intervals must have elapsed untreated before the patient is eligible.
* Age \> 18 and must be able to read, understand and sign the local informed consent.
* Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance Status of 2 or less, including patients who are not surgical candidates due to comorbid conditions.
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening.
* All patients of childbearing potential must be willing to consent to using effective contraception, i.e., IUD, Birth control pills, Depo-Provera, and/or condoms while on treatment and for 3 months after their last Gemcitabine/Docetaxel treatment.
* No intravesical or upper tract topical therapy within 8 weeks of study entry.
* Must be willing and able to comply with all protocol requirements.
* Should have a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential before the index tumor resection or biopsy (within 30 days) and/or within 14 days before starting Gemcitabine/Docetaxel therapy.
* Must be willing and able to give informed consent and any authorizations required by the local Institutional Review Board (IRB) for participation in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History or concurrent Stage T2 or greater urothelial cancer.
* History or concurrent upper tract or prostatic urethral cancer (no suspicious or positive upper tract cytology and negative upper tract imaging within 6 months of study entry; visually normal or absent prostatic urethra by cystoscopy).
* History or concurrent variant bladder cancer histology including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, plasmacytoid carcinoma, nested urothelial carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, squamous, glandular, metastatic carcinoma and others. Select urothelial carcinoma with favorable micropapillary differentiation is permitted (see above).
* Active other malignancies excluding indolent or well-controlled prostate cancer, basal or squamous cell skin cancers or non-invasive cancer of the cervix are permitted so long as they are not expected to impact 3-year survival outcomes.
* History of severe hypersensitivity reaction (\>= grade 3) to Gemcitabine and/or Docetaxel.
* History of severe hypersensitivity reaction (\>= grade 3) to Polysorbate 80 containing drugs (Docetaxel is formulated with Polysorbate 80)
* Concurrent treatment with any intravesical or systemic chemotherapeutic agent (8-week washout required).
* Treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor within 2 treatment cycles of enrollment.
* Major surgery within 3 months of enrollment.
* Inadequate organ and bone marrow function as evidenced by:

  1. Hemoglobin ≤8.0 g/dL.
  2. Absolute neutrophil count ≤1.5 x 109/L.
  3. Platelet count ≤80 x 109/L.
  4. AST/SGOT and/or ALT/SGPT ≥3.0 x ULN.
  5. Total bilirubin \>1.5 x ULN excepting known benign Gilbert's Disease.
  6. Serum creatinine \>2.0 x ULN.

  i. If creatinine 1.5 - 2.0 x ULN, creatinine clearance will be calculated according to CKD-EPI formula and patients with creatinine clearance \<30 mL/min should be excluded.
* History of radiation to the pelvis.
* History of difficult catheterization that in the opinion of the Investigator will prevent safe and/or reliable administration of the intravesical agents.
* History of interstitial cystitis or current inability to hold \~ 2 ounces of fluid in the bladder for the expected 60-minute retention time (assistive medication and/or techniques (gravity reflux; split dosing) are permitted).
* Active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection(s) requiring systemic therapy (3- week documented clearance required).
* Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C infection.
* Recent Covid infection within 30 days of enrollment or currently symptomatic of Covid-related illnesses.
* Significant cardiovascular risk (e.g., coronary stenting within 8 weeks, myocardial infarction within 6 months).
* Women who are pregnant or lactating.
* Participation in any other research protocol involving administration of an investigational agent within 6 weeks of study entry (8-week washout required)
* Any other major or unstable medical condition that in the Investigator's opinion, could affect patient performance status, ability to receive the intravesical therapy and/or life expectancy during the five years of intended study participation.

Where this trial is running

Iowa City, Iowa

• University of Iowa — Iowa City, Iowa, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Michael A O'Donnell, MD — University of Iowa
• Study coordinator: Denise Juhr, BS

Conditions Bladder Cancer; Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer; Urothelial Carcinoma; Carcinoma in Situ; High-Grade Papillary Bladder Tumors; BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer; Ta Stage Bladder Cancer; T1 Stage Bladder Cancer