Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, Gemcitabine, to Usual Treatment (BCG Alone) in People Whose Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Came Back After Prior BCG Therapy

NCT ID: NCT07000084

Last Updated: 2026-02-04

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

330 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-17

Study Completion Date

2028-12-05

Brief Summary

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This phase III trial compares the effect of adding gemcitabine to intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) versus intravesical BCG alone in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. Intravesical BCG is a solution containing the live BCG bacteria that is placed in the bladder via a catheter (intravesical). When the solution comes into direct contact with the bladder wall, it stimulates the body's immune system which kills tumor cells. Giving gemcitabine with intravesical BCG may kill more tumor cells in patients with recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Detailed Description

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PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To compare high-grade recurrence-free-survival between treated with gemcitabine with BCG (GemBCG) compared to those treated with BCG alone.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To compare the proportion of patients who remain high grade cancer free on initial post-treatment cystoscopic biopsies/transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) (week 13/month 3) between those treated with GemBCG compared to those treated with BCG alone.

II. To compare the 6-month (Week 25) complete response rate and the complete response durability between patients treated with GemBCG compared to those treated with BCG alone among patients with pre-treatment CIS.

III. To compare the time to recurrence of any-grade bladder cancer between patients treated with GemBCG compared those treated with BCG alone.

IV. To compare the progression-free-survival between patients treated with GemBCG compared to those treated with BCG alone.

V. To compare the cystectomy-free-survival between patients treated with GemBCG compared to those treated with BCG alone.

VI. To compare the proportion of patients free from BCG-unresponsive NMIBC between those treated with GemBCG compared to those treated with BCG alone.

VII. To determine the safety of and toxicity associated with GemBCG treatment relative to that of BCG treatment alone.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To collect tumor tissue/bladder biopsies, blood, and urine samples for biobanking that will enable future correlative studies.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM A: Patients receive BCG intravesically over 2 hours once per week (QW) for 6 weeks. 2-6 weeks after completing endoscopic assessment, patients receive BCG over 2 hours QW for 3 weeks at month 3, 6 and 12 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo bladder biopsy, TURBT, cystoscopy, computed tomography (CT) scan/ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood and urine sample collection throughout the study.

ARM B: Patients receive gemcitabe intravesically over 1 hour twice weekly on weeks 1 and 10 and once weekly on weeks 4 and 7. Patients also receive BCG intravesically over 2 hours QW on weeks 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9. 2-6 weeks after completing endoscopic assessment, patients receive gemcitable intravesically over 1 hour on week 1 and BCG intravesically over 2 hours on week 2-4 at month 3, 6 and 12 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo bladder biopsy, TURBT, cystoscopy, CT scan/MRI and blood and urine sample collection throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 years up to 5 years from randomization.

Conditions

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Recurrent Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Carcinoma Stage 0a Bladder Cancer AJCC v8 Stage I Bladder Cancer AJCC v8

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Arm A (BCG)

Patients receive BCG intravesically over 2 hours QW for 6 weeks. 2-6 weeks after completing endoscopic assessment, patients receive BCG over 2 hours QW for 3 weeks at month 3, 6 and 12 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo bladder biopsy, TURBT, cystoscopy, CT scan/MRI and blood and urine sample collection throughout the study.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

BCG Solution

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Given intravesically

Biopsy of Bladder

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo bladder biopsy

Cystoscopy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo cystoscopy

Computed Tomography

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo CT Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Biospecimen Collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo blood and urine sample collection

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo TURBT

Arm B (BCG and gemcitabine)

Patients receive gemcitabe intravesically over 1 hour twice weekly on weeks 1 and 10 and once weekly on weeks 4 and 7. Patients also receive BCG intravesically over 2 hours QW on weeks 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9. 2-6 weeks after completing endoscopic assessment, patients receive gemcitable intravesically over 1 hour on week 1 and BCG intravesically over 2 hours on week 2-4 at month 3, 6 and 12 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo bladder biopsy, TURBT, cystoscopy, CT scan/MRI and blood and urine sample collection throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BCG Solution

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Given intravesically

Biopsy of Bladder

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo bladder biopsy

Cystoscopy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo cystoscopy

Computed Tomography

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo CT Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Biospecimen Collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo blood and urine sample collection

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo TURBT

Gemcitabine

Intervention Type DRUG

Given intravesically

Interventions

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BCG Solution

Given intravesically

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Biopsy of Bladder

Undergo bladder biopsy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Cystoscopy

Undergo cystoscopy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Computed Tomography

Undergo CT Scan

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo MRI

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood and urine sample collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

Undergo TURBT

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Gemcitabine

Given intravesically

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Bacillus Calmette Guerin Solution Bladder Biopsy CAT Scan CT Scan MRI TURBT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Documentation of Disease: Histologic confirmation of urothelial carcinoma that is high grade Ta, high grade T1, or Tis (Tis/carcinoma in situ \[CIS\] only disease) within 120 days prior to randomization
* Any component of neuroendocrine carcinoma (i.e., small cell or large cell) is not allowed. Other histologic subtypes/variant histologies are allowed so long as there is a predominantly urothelial component.

\* Note: Pure squamous cell carcinoma or pure adenocarcinoma without a urothelial component are not allowed
* All visible papillary lesions must be macroscopically resected by TURBT within 90 days of randomization. (Residual CIS is permitted).

\* If the treating urologist did not perform the TURBT, the treating urologist must perform a cystoscopy within 45 days prior to randomization to confirm the absence of visible papillary disease
* All patients with high grade T1 must undergo a restaging TURBT within 90 days of randomization. Patients who undergo a restaging TURBT that shows no residual cancer in the specimen are still eligible for trial based on prior TURBT
* Patients must have BCG-Exposed non muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (NMIBC), defined as recurrent high grade NMIBC within 24 months of last BCG exposure but not meeting the definition of BCG unresponsive disease

* Note: Up to 26 months from the last BCG instillation is allowed for the treating physician to perform a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) so long as there is evidence/suspicion of recurrent disease (by positive cytology, imaging, or cystoscopy) within 24 months of last exposure to BCG.
* Note: A patient who previously met the definition of BCG unresponsive NMIBC but no longer currently meets unresponsive criteria may still enroll in this trial so long as the treating urologist believes re-treatment with BCG is a reasonable treatment option for that patient.
* BCG-exposed NMIBC criteria is defined as:

* Any high grade NMIBC recurrence within 24 months of induction only BCG, or
* A high grade papillary NMIBC (Ta/T1) recurrence between 6-24 months of last exposure to induction + maintenance BCG, or
* A high-grade CIS (with or without Ta/T1 papillary disease) recurrence within 12-24 months of last exposure to induction + maintenance BCG.
* Patient must not have BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, defined as:

* Persistent or recurrent high-grade papillary NMIBC (Ta/T1) \< 6 months of "adequate" BCG, or
* A high-grade CIS (with or without Ta/T1 papillary disease) recurrence \< 12 months of "adequate" BCG, or
* A high grade T1 recurrence at the first 3-month assessment from induction BCG
* "Adequate" BCG is defined as ≥5 of 6 doses of induction BCG therapy with either

* ≥ 2 of 3 doses of maintenance BCG, or
* ≥ 2 of planned 6 instillations of repeat induction BCG given within a 6 month time period
* More than one prior induction course of BCG and/or prior maintenance BCG is allowed so long as the patient does not currently met the definition of BCG unresponsive disease
* Prior treatment with any intravesical chemotherapy (both perioperative and induction course) for NMIBC is allowed, including gemcitabine either alone or in combination (ie. gemcitabine plus docetaxel) or gemcitabine delivered through a intravesical delivery system (ie. TAR-200)
* Prior treatment with any systemic or intravesical agents for NMIBC is allowed, regardless of whether it is given either alone or in prior combination with BCG (ie. Prior treatment with pembrolizumab, other immune checkpoint inhibitors, nadofaragene firadenovec, nogapendekin alfa inbakicept, cretostimogene grenadenorepvec, etc. are all allowed)
* Patients must not have a history of intolerance to BCG (ie needing to stop BCG induction or maintenance due to toxicity) or intolerance to any other intravesical therapies
* Patients must not have compromised bladder function such that they are unlikely to tolerate further intravesical therapies
* Patient must not have any prior history or current evidence of muscle-invasive (i.e., T2, T3, T4), locally advanced unresectable, or metastatic urothelial carcinoma as assessed on radiographic imaging obtained within 120 days prior to randomization.

\* The radiographic imaging includes a CT Scan or MRI of the abdomen/pelvis with intravenous contrast, with a CT or MRI urogram preferred. If a patient is unable to receive intravenous contrast due to renal function or allergy, then either a CT scan or MRI of the abdomen/pelvis without intravenous contrast is acceptable
* Patients with a history of upper tract urothelial carcinoma are allowed so long as they had localized non-muscle invasive (Ta, T1, Tis) that has been definitively treated with surgery (nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy) with at least one post-treatment disease assessment imaging study that demonstrates no evidence of residual upper tract disease
* Patients with a history of, or current evidence of, non-invasive (Ta/Tis) urothelial carcinoma of the prostatic urethra are eligible so long as a transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is performed before enrollment and there is prostatic glandular tissue without evidence of lamina propria invasion or prostatic stromal invasion
* HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
* Not pregnant and not nursing, 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 sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria:

* has achieved menarche at some point
* has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy
* 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)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Eugene Pietzak, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Locations

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University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Gilbert, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care

Irvine, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Orange, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

UF Health Cancer Institute - Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic in Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Post Falls

Post Falls, Idaho, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Sandpoint

Sandpoint, Idaho, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Illinois

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Loyola University Medical Center

Maywood, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Marjorie Weinberg Cancer Center at Loyola-Gottlieb

Melrose Park, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

IU Health West Hospital

Avon, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

IU Health North Hospital

Carmel, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Indiana University/Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

IU Health Methodist Hospital

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center - Metairie

Metairie, Louisiana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

FMH James M Stockman Cancer Institute

Frederick, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Community Hospital of Anaconda

Anaconda, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Billings Clinic Cancer Center

Billings, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital

Bozeman, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Great Falls Clinic

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Hi-Line Sletten Cancer Center

Havre, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Benefis Helena Specialty Center

Helena, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Logan Health Medical Center

Kalispell, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Community Medical Center

Missoula, Montana, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen

Montvale, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Buffalo, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

Commack, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

Uniondale, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Geisinger Medical Center

Danville, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City

Dickson City, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Geisinger Medical Oncology-Lewisburg

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Fox Chase Cancer Center-Rockledge

Rockledge, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Geisinger Wyoming Valley/Henry Cancer Center

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Memorial Hospital of Laramie County

Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Billings Clinic-Cody

Cody, Wyoming, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Aishwarya Vijendran

Role: CONTACT

(773) 702-9171

Facility Contacts

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Site Public Contact

Role: primary

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

602-747-9738

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

855-776-0015

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

877-827-8839

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

877-827-8839

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

202-243-2373

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

352-273-8010

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

855-776-0015

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

312-695-1301

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

312-355-3046

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

708-226-4357

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

708-450-4554

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

317-278-5632

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

317-278-5632

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

317-278-5632

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

317-278-5632

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

504-584-6990

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

410-955-8804

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

301-668-7043

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

617-724-5200

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

855-776-0015

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

800-996-2663

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

773-702-9171

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

406-969-6060

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

551-996-2897

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

800-767-9355

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

212-639-7592

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

405-271-8777

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

570-271-5251

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

877-204-6081

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

570-374-8555

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

215-728-4790

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

888-823-5923

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

570-271-5251

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

843-789-7020

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

843-792-9321

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

773-702-9171

Site Public Contact

Role: primary

800-996-2663

Other Identifiers

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NCI-2025-02655

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

A032303

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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