Pembrolizumab plus sacituzumab govitecan versus standard treatments for advanced urothelial cancer
Official title: A Phase III Randomized Trial of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy vs Standard of Care in Anti-PD(L)1-Resistant Advanced Urothelial Cancer
Run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NCT06524544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding sacituzumab govitecan to pembrolizumab works better than standard chemotherapy options for adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have progressed after prior therapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 320 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Cancer Institute (NCI) NIH |
| Drugs / interventions | enfortumab, Sacituzumab, trastuzumab, prednisone, pembrolizumab, chemotherapy, Immunotherapy |
| Locations | 163 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 162 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 2, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | November 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06524544 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with measurable, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, ECOG 0–2, documented conventional urothelial histology (≥1% urothelial component), prior progression after immediate prior anticancer therapy and prior anti–PD-(L)1 exposure are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with pure non-urothelial histology, ECOG performance status >2, untreated disease, or who cannot tolerate the study drugs or required procedures are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
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 randomized phase III trial comparing the combination of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab plus the antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan against physician-choice standard chemotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Key outcomes include overall survival, progression-free survival, response rates, duration of response, and treatment toxicity, with planned collection of biospecimens and imaging per RECIST 1.1. Health-related quality of life will also be measured using bladder cancer–specific instruments at baseline and multiple follow-up time points. Eligible patients must have measurable disease, prior exposure to anti–PD-(L)1 therapy, and ECOG performance status 0–2.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could prolong survival and delay disease progression compared with standard chemotherapy for previously treated advanced urothelial cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Antibody-drug conjugates such as sacituzumab govitecan and PD-1 inhibitors have shown activity in urothelial cancer and early-phase combinations have been encouraging, but large randomized phase III confirmation of added benefit is still limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patient must be ≥ 18 years of age
* Patient must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2.
* Patient must have locally advanced (unresectable and/or not amenable to curative intent therapy) or metastatic urothelial cancer
* Patient must have histologically (or based on urine cytology) proven conventional urothelial carcinoma (UC) of any urinary tract origin \[any histologic subtype except neuroendocrine (small or large cell)\] are permitted so long as tumors include ≥ 1% conventional urothelial histology). NOTE: Pure non-urothelial histology is excluded
* Patient must have measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 criteria. Baseline imaging must be obtained ≤ 35 days prior to randomization
* Patient must have the following prior treatment(s). Patient must have had progression on or after the immediate prior anti-cancer therapy
* Patient must have had prior exposure to anti-PD(L)1 therapy \[anti -PD(L)1 monotherapy or as a combination regimen in any disease/therapy setting for UC\]. Patients must have received at least 1 dose of anti-PD(L)1 therapy
* NOTE: Anti-PD(L)1 therapy does not need to be the most recent therapy received prior to enrollment on this protocol
* NOTE: Patient must not have had progression within 12 weeks of starting their first anti-PD(L) 1 therapy, even if anti-PD-(L)1 treatment was given in more than one lines of therapy
* Patient must have had ≥ 1 line of systemic therapy given in the advanced/metastatic disease setting, except for patients who had received anti-PD(L)1 + enfortumab vedotin in the localized disease setting (e.g., neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant) and had cancer progression within 12 months from the last systemic therapy dose
* For tumors with known FGFR3+ susceptible alteration (for FGFR inhibitor), patients must have received a prior FGFR inhibitor unless contraindicated per physician discretion
* Patient must have received prior enfortumab vedotin or any other Nectin-4 directed therapy or other MMAE-containing therapy in any disease/therapy setting unless contraindicated per physician
* Patient must have had no prior exposure to Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy or other TROP-2 directed therapies or antibody-drug conjugate that contains topo-isomerase I inhibitor, e.g. trastuzumab deruxtecan
* Patient must have Bellmunt score of 0-2. The Bellmunt score assesses a patient's risk and is calculated based on ECOG PS, hemoglobin level and presence of liver metastases
* Patient must not have history of grade 3-4 immune-related adverse events on prior anti-PD1/L1, except for endocrinopathies on adequate hormone therapy repletion and/or clinically insignificant laboratory abnormalities
* Patient must have recovered (i.e., ≤ grade 1) from clinically significant AEs due to previously administered systemic therapy agent, except for endocrinopathies on adequate hormone therapy repletion
* NOTE: Patients with ≤ grade 2 neuropathy, any grade of alopecia, or any grade of non-clinically significant laboratory abnormality are exceptions to this criterion and are allowed in this trial.
* Examples of non-clinically significant laboratory abnormalities include, but are not limited to:
* Lymphopenia or monopenia
* Lymphocytosis or monocytosis
* Increase in amylase or lipase with no clinical correlation
* Any other abnormal laboratory findings that have no clinical relevance per the treating investigator.
* NOTE: If patient has undergone major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to randomization
* Patient must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to the potential harm to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with the treatment regimens being used. All patients of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 14 days prior to randomization to rule out pregnancy. A patient of childbearing potential is defined as anyone, regardless of whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point, 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 3) has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months). Patient must not nurse infants while on protocol treatment and for 4 months after the last dose of protocol treatment
* Patient must not expect to conceive or father children by using an accepted and effective method(s) of contraception or by abstaining from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study. Patients of childbearing potential must continue contraceptive method(s) or abstain for 6 months after the last dose of protocol treatment. Patients with partners who could become pregnant should use effective contraception during therapy and for 3 months after the last dose of protocol treatment
* Patient must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Patients with impaired decision-making capacity (IDMC) who have a legally authorized representative (LAR) or caregiver and/or family member available will also be considered eligible
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/uL (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Platelets ≥ 100,000/uL (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Albumin ≥ 3 g/dL (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)(serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)(serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase \[SGPT\]) ≤ 3 × institutional ULN or ≤ 5.0 x institutional ULN if known liver metastases (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 30 mL/min (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization) NOTE: CrCl is estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula (or can be measured by 24-hour urine collection if needed)
* Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 8.5 g/dl (obtained ≤ 14 days prior to randomization)
* Patient must not have a known genetic UGT1A1 \*28/\*28 or \*6/\*6 homozygous variant genotype. Patients with homozygous variant types are considered poor metabolizers and are at higher risk for severe adverse events when compared to wild-type. Patients with heterozygous UGT1A1 variants (i.e. \*1/\*28 or \*1/\*6) are eligible and should be counseled accordingly and be very closely monitored if randomized to the sacituzumab govitecan arm
* NOTE: If a patient's UGT1A1 status is unknown, they are eligible to enroll (the study does not require this test as part of screening)
* Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months of randomization are eligible
* For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
* Patients with history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and considered cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
* Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression and are not using steroids \> 10 mg of prednisone (or equivalent) daily for brain metastases for at least 7 days prior to randomization
* Patients with prior or concurrent malignancy that is not considered clinically significant and whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen (at the discretion of the treating physician) are eligible
* Patient must not be on systemic immunosuppressive medication, including steroids (if doses exceed the equivalent of prednisone 10 mg daily). Short courses of steroids, e.g. "burst", which are discontinued prior to randomization are acceptable. Patients on inhaled, intranasal, intra-articular and/or topical steroids are eligible
* Patient must be English or Spanish speaking to be eligible for the HRQOL component of the study.
* NOTE: Sites cannot translate the associated HRQOL forms
Where it's running
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Cancer Center at Saint Joseph's
Phoenix, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care
Irvine, California, United States Recruiting -
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Orange, California, United States Recruiting -
UF Health Cancer Institute - Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States Recruiting -
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Post Falls
Post Falls, Idaho, United States Recruiting -
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Sandpoint
Sandpoint, Idaho, United States Recruiting -
University of Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle at The Riverfront
Danville, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Physician Group-Effingham
Effingham, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Crossroads Cancer Center
Effingham, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston
Mattoon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle BroMenn Medical Center
Normal, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Cancer Institute Normal
Normal, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Cancer Care Center of O'Fallon
O'Fallon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
HSHS Saint Elizabeth's Hospital
O'Fallon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Hospital East
Shiloh, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Springfield Clinic
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Springfield Memorial Hospital
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Cancer Center
Urbana, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Ames, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
McFarland Clinic - Ames
Ames, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
Mercy Hospital
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
Oncology Associates at Mercy Medical Center
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
McFarland Clinic - Trinity Cancer Center
Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
McFarland Clinic - Marshalltown
Marshalltown, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
HaysMed
Hays, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Lawrence, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
The University of Kansas Cancer Center - Olathe
Olathe, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Cancer Center-Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
Salina Regional Health Center
Salina, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Health System Saint Francis Campus
Topeka, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center
Westwood, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky, United States Recruiting -
UofL Health Medical Center Northeast
Louisville, Kentucky, United States Recruiting -
Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates LLC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center - Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton
Brighton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton
Canton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital
Chelsea, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
University of Michigan Health - Sparrow Lansing
Lansing, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital
Livonia, Michigan, United States Recruiting
+113 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Monika Joshi — ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group
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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.