Sequential Chemotherapy Followed by Ultrahypofractionated Radiotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

October 29, 2026 updated by: Walaa Khalifa Fathy Mohammed, Assiut University

Sequential Chemotherapy Followed by Ultrahypofractionated Radiotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer in Older Adults: Clinical Outcomes and Treatment-Related Toxicity

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a potentially lethal disease for which radical cystectomy with appropriate systemic therapy remains a standard curative approach in medically fit patients. . However, Half of bladder cancer cases are diagnosed in patients aged over 75 years, many of whom are not fit for major surgery owing to their performance status and comorbidities .

A substantial proportion of bladder cancer cases occur in older adults (there is no single universal age cutoff for the term older adults, but several commonly used definitions exist: WHO: generally refers to people aged 60 years or older, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, while in clinical and research settings: ≥65 years is frequently used as the operational definition of older adults, especially in oncology and geriatric medicine), and advanced age is frequently accompanied by comorbidities and frailty that may limit eligibility for radical surgery or multimodality treatment . Bladder-preserving treatment incorporating maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and definitive radiotherapy is therefore an important treatment option in selected patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a potentially lethal disease for which radical cystectomy with appropriate systemic therapy remains a standard curative approach in medically fit patients. However, Half of bladder cancer cases are diagnosed in patients aged over 75 years, many of whom are not fit for major surgery owing to their performance status and comorbidities .

A substantial proportion of bladder cancer cases occur in older adults (there is no single universal age cutoff for the term older adults, but several commonly used definitions exist: WHO: generally refers to people aged 60 years or older, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, while in clinical and research settings: ≥65 years is frequently used as the operational definition of older adults, especially in oncology and geriatric medicine), and advanced age is frequently accompanied by comorbidities and frailty that may limit eligibility for radical surgery or multimodality treatment. Bladder-preserving treatment incorporating maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and definitive radiotherapy is therefore an important treatment option in selected patients.

Most established bladder-preservation protocols use concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Nevertheless, sequential treatment-systemic chemotherapy followed by definitive radiotherapy-may be attractive in selected patients . Published data support bladder-preserving radiotherapy in older adults, although the literature is heterogeneous and most contemporary series evaluate concurrent rather than purely sequential treatment . In Older adults, concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been associated with improved survival, while hypofractionated bladder radiotherapy schedules have demonstrated acceptable tolerability in selected older populations .

These observations provide the rationale for prospectively evaluating a sequential approach in patients who are not ideal candidates for concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A number of small single-centre studies using the higher biological dose of 30-36 Gy in 6 Gy per fraction suggest acceptable acute and late toxicity with local control achieved in over of 60% patients at 3 months . Prospective multicentre assessment of this radiotherapy schedule has not yet been performed. The proposed study will evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, treatment completion, and toxicity of a sequential strategy in older adults with non-metastatic MIBC.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
71

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Histologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder
  2. Muscle-invasive disease, preferably clinical stage cT2-T4a, N0, according to TNM staging system.
  3. No evidence of distant metastatic disease (M) .
  4. Age ≥65 years including medically unfit patients for radical cystectomy or radical daily radiotherapy for any reason including but not limited to performance status, comorbidity or patient preferance .
  5. ECOG performance status 0_ 3.
  6. Patients must have undergone maximal safe TURBT, with documentation of detrusor muscle in the specimen whenever technically feasible.
  7. _Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥30 mL/min for patients receiving a carboplatin-based regimen.

CrCl ≥40 mL/min for patients receiving fractionated cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

8- Eligible patients would have an expected survival of greater than 6 months, be willing to accept assessment with cystoscopy following radiotherapy completion and be able to attend for follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Nodal disease and distant metastatic disease (M1).
  2. Previous radiotherapy to the pelvis or any contraindication for pelvic RT including IBD.
  3. Previous systemic chemotherapy for the current MIBC.
  4. Uncontrolled active infection, moderate to severe hydronephrosis, invasion of prostatic urethra, diffuse TIS throughout the bladder, tumor size >6 cm.
  5. Active or history of other malignancy within 2 years of recruitment except for non-melanomatous skin carcinoma, previous non-muscle invasive bladder tumors and low-risk prostate cancer (as defined by NCCN risk stratification as T1/T2a, Gleason 6, PSA <10) will be excluded.
  6. _ Active Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Older adults with muscle invasive bladder cancer

Patients aged ≥65 years with histologically confirmed muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder with non-metastatic disease and with PS 0-3, who are medically unfit or unsuitable for radical cystectomy or radical conventional RT, will be treated with sequential chemotherapy followed by ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy will be considered for enrollment.
Procedure: Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

All patients should undergo maximal safe TURBT before systemic treatment. The objective is maximal tumor debulking while preserving bladder function and obtaining adequate tissue for pathological diagnosis and staging. A second-look TURBT may be considered, especially when the initial resection was incomplete (tumors ≥3 cm, no evaluation of muscle involvement in spite of radiological evidence).

Drug: Sequential Systemic Chemotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy will be administered before radiotherapy. The preferred regimen should be selected according to renal function, performance status, comorbidities, and multidisciplinary assessment.

Suggested protocol options:

  • Cisplatin-eligible patients: Gemcitabine + cisplatin may be used commonly for 3-4 cycles.
  • Cisplatin-ineligible patients: Gemcitabine + carboplatin may be considered where appropriate .

Radiotherapy should commence after adequate recovery from chemotherapy, provided there is no evidence of progression and the patient remains suitable for local treatment. A practical interval is approximately 3-6 weeks after the final chemotherapy cycle.

Radiation: radiotherapy

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning is recommended using three or four fields; however, use of static 5-7-field IMRT or volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy treatment is permitted.

Three-dimensional dose distributions will be produced for the overall prescribed dose of 36 Gy in six fractions. The dose distribution will be assessed for coverage of the PTV and normal tissues sparing using appropriate transverse sagittal and coronal views.

All plans will be created to ensure that at least 98% of the PTV (PTV D98%) receives >90% (ideally >95%) of the prescribed dose, the median PTV dose (PTV D50%) is within 1% of the prescription dose and the near maximum (PTV D2%) is <107% (ideally <105%) of the prescribed dose. To minimize unexpected high dose outside the PTV, it is required that 1 cm3 of normal tissue outside the PTV should be <110% of the prescribed dose.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of objective Response rate (ORR) and Disease control rate (DCR)
Time Frame: 4-6 weeks after completion of RT

Evaluate the Clinical efficacy including Objective Response rate (ORR) and Disease control rate (DCR) at 4-6 weeks after finishing RT.
4-6 weeks after completion of RT
Assessment of Toxicity of Treatment
Time Frame: Baseline

Evaluate Toxicity of Treatment using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE V.5)
Baseline
Assessment of Toxicity of Treatment
Time Frame: Baseline

Assessment of treatment-related toxicity according to health-related quality of life using the EQ-5D questionnaire
Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assess the Time to local disease progression
Time Frame: From treatment initiation until the end of the follow up ( 12 months follow up )

Time from the date of treatment initiation to the date of documented local disease progression
From treatment initiation until the end of the follow up ( 12 months follow up )
Assess the Time to EFS
Time Frame: From treatment initiation until progression or death

Time from the date of treatment initiation to Event free survival
From treatment initiation until progression or death

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Ultrafractionated Radiotherapy

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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