Evaluation of the Impact of Empty Versus Full Bladder in Patients With Prostate Cancer, RELIEF Trial

NCT ID: NCT06037863

Last Updated: 2025-11-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

168 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-19

Study Completion Date

2027-12-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This clinical trial evaluates the effects of an empty bladder versus (vs.) a full bladder prior to undergoing a computed tomography (CT) simulation for radiation therapy in patients with prostate cancer. Radiation therapy is a commonly used treatment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prior to initiation of a course of radiotherapy, all patients with prostate cancer undergo a CT simulation that allows for computer-based optimization of radiation dose delivery to the target tissue (i.e., prostate) and simultaneous dose minimization to surrounding normal tissues, such as bladder and rectum. Patients are typically given standard instructions for preparation to present with a reproducible full bladder at the time of CT simulation and for each subsequent radiation treatment appointment. The goal of bladder distension is to displace portions of the bladder and bowel away from the highest dose radiation delivery to the prostate. However, as typical urinary symptoms related to radiotherapy develop during treatment, some patients are unable to reproduce the bladder distention achieved at the time of CT simulation. This can result in increased daily treatment time, sub-optimal reproducibility of patient internal anatomy, and increased stress for patients and radiation therapy staff. This trial will evaluate the effects of an empty bladder vs. a full bladder prior to CT simulation and radiation therapy in patients with prostate cancer and how it effects patient reported outcomes.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine whether an empty bladder during radiation therapy delivery for prostate cancer is non-inferior to standard bladder filling for change in patient-reported urinary symptoms 3 months post-treatment.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate whether an empty bladder during radiation therapy delivery for prostate cancer is non-inferior to standard bladder filling for patient-reported bowel symptoms and patient-reported severity of urinary symptoms 3 months post-treatment.

II. To compare physician-assessed genitourinary and gastrointestinal Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) toxicity related to radiation therapy in patients treated with a full versus an empty bladder 3 months post-treatment.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the differences in dosimetric parameters, using both absolute and relative volumetric measures, between the full bladder and empty bladder patients and correlate with toxicity scores 3 months post-treatment.

II. To compare patient experience questionnaire answers between arms. III. To compare daily treatment evaluations by radiation therapists (RTT) between arms.

IV. To test for moderation of the treatment effect on the primary endpoint by the four stratification factors.

V. To evaluate whether an empty bladder during radiation therapy delivery for prostate cancer is non-inferior to standard bladder filling for patient-reported urinary symptoms at end of therapy (EOT) and severity, function, and bother 3 months post- treatment.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients perform standard of care (SOC) bladder filling and then undergo computed tomography (CT) and radiation therapy in 2-39 fractions at the discretion of the treating clinician on study.

ARM II: Patients perform bladder emptying and then undergo CT and radiation therapy in 2-39 fractions at the discretion of the treating clinician on study.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at 3 months.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Prostate Carcinoma

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Arm I (bladder filling, CT, radiation)

Patients perform SOC bladder filling and then undergo CT and radiation therapy in 2-39 fractions at the discretion of the treating clinician on study.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Best Practice

Intervention Type OTHER

Undergo bladder filling prior to CT

Computed Tomography

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo CT

Electronic Health Record Review

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Radiation Therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

Undergo radiation therapy

Arm II (bladder emptying, CT, radiation)

Patients perform bladder emptying and then undergo CT and radiation therapy in 2-39 fractions at the discretion of the treating clinician on study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Computed Tomography

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo CT

Electronic Health Record Review

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Imaging Procedure

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo bladder emptying prior to CT

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Radiation Therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

Undergo radiation therapy

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Best Practice

Undergo bladder filling prior to CT

Intervention Type OTHER

Computed Tomography

Undergo CT

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Electronic Health Record Review

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Imaging Procedure

Undergo bladder emptying prior to CT

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Radiation Therapy

Undergo radiation therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

standard of care standard therapy CAT CAT Scan Computed Axial Tomography Computerized Axial Tomography Computerized axial tomography (procedure) Computerized Tomography CT CT Scan tomography Computerized Tomography (CT) scan Diagnostic Imaging Technique Image Type Imaging Imaging (procedure) Imaging Procedures Imaging Technique imaging type IMAGING_METHOD imaging_type Medical Imaging Type of imaging Cancer Radiotherapy Energy Type ENERGY_TYPE Irradiate Irradiated Irradiation Radiation Radiation Therapy, NOS Radiotherapeutics Radiotherapy RT Therapy, Radiation

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Age \>= 18 years
* Histological confirmation of prostate cancer
* Planned definitive dose radiotherapy to the prostate

* Note: Patients are eligible for enrollment if they are already enrolled or planned for enrollment on another interventional research protocol provided that other study protocol treatment does not require procedures or treatments that would be in conflict with the eligibility or treatment protocols for this study nor, in the judgement of the enrolling physician, affect primary study objectives of this study
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1, or 2
* Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance
* Provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Planned delivery of radiotherapy to pelvic lymph nodes
* Planned brachytherapy treatment of the prostate
* Significant urinary incontinence that precludes standard bladder filling
* Evidence of direct bladder extension or bladder wall metastases from prostate cancer
* Used indwelling or intermittent urinary catheterization at baseline
* Prior pelvic radiotherapy such that any portion of the prostate received \> 5 Gy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Bradley (Brad) Stish

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Bradley J. Stish, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic in Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea

Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Mankato

Mankato, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire Clinic

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare

La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

NCI-2023-06451

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

GMROR2352

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

23-005799

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

RELIEF

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Tumor TARGET Prostate Cancer
NCT01802242 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA
MRI Guided Prostate Biopsy
NCT06302595 RECRUITING NA