Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Bladder Cancer

A Prospective Randomized Trial for the Comparison of Two BCG Strains (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) in the Prophylaxis of Papollary Bladder Tumors Stage Ta and T1 and Treatment of Carcinoma in Situ

RATIONALE: Biological therapies such as BCG use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. It is not yet known which type of BCG is more effective for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of two different types of BCG in treating patients who have bladder cancer.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bladder Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Connaught; Biological: Tice

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare two strains of BCG (Connaught vs Tice) in terms of efficacy (yearly relapse rate) and tolerability in patients with Ta or T1 papillary carcinoma of the urinary bladder or carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder. II. Assess the role of prior exposition to mycobacteria (vaccination/Tbc) for BCG treatment efficacy in these patients. III. Define the role of fever occurrence as a potential indicator for BCG reactivity in these patients. IV. Evaluate the p53 status of the resected tumors and IL-8 secretion into the urine as predictive factors of BCG reactivity in these patients. V. Evaluate disease free interval and disease free survival, time to progression, and overall survival in these patients. VI. Evaluate quality of life in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to center, T stage (Ta vs T1 vs CIS), and BCG immunization status (positive, i.e., greater than 10 mm diameter vs negative-indeterminate, i.e., less than 10 mm diameter). All patients undergo complete transurethral resection (TURB) to remove bladder tumors. A Mantoux test is performed. Patients with stage T1 disease undergo a second resection within 2-4 weeks after initial TURB. Patients are randomized to receive either BCG Onko-Tice (arm I) or BCG Connaught (arm II). Both arms receive BCG by catheter beginning 2-14 days after the last TURB. Patients must hold the BCG in the bladder for 2 hours. BCG is instilled once a week for 6 weeks. Quality of life is assessed before randomization, daily during first and last weeks of treatment, every 6 months for the first 2 years, and then annually thereafter. Patients are followed every 6 months for the first 3 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A minimum of 300 patients will be accrued for this study within 6 years.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Bern, Switzerland, CH-3010
    • Inselspital, Bern

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed completely resected T1 or Ta papillary tumors of the urinary bladder TaG2 greater than 2 relapses in 2 years TaG3 unifocal or multifocal Unifocal primary T1G2-3 after a histological tumor-free second resection If multiple/multifocal, worst stage and grade AND/OR Histologically and cytologically confirmed primary or secondary carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder No persistent T1 disease in second resection No contracted bladder (bladder capacity less than 80 mL) or bladder irritation within past 5 years No urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract or the urethra

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 90 Performance status: WHO 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Liver function no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: Renal function no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other concurrent malignancies except basocellular carcinoma No congenital or acquired immunosuppression (e.g., HIV, leukemia, lymphoma, transplant recipient) No uncontrollable or untreated urinary tract infection No chronic recurring bacterial cystitis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior BCG therapy Chemotherapy: At least 3 months since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 5 years since prior radiotherapy to the bladder Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No prior tuberculostatic therapy No concurrent local antiseptics or antibiotics

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: BCG-Connaught	Biological: Connaught; Compare two strains of BCG
Active Comparator: BCG Onko-Tice	Biological: Tice; Compare two strains of BCG

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Assess role of prior exposition to mycobacteria	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Define role of fever occurrence as potential indicator for BCG reactivity	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research
• Investigators: Study Chair: George N. Thalmann, MD, University Hospital Inselspital, Berne

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rentsch CA, Birkhauser FD, Biot C, Gsponer JR, Bisiaux A, Wetterauer C, Lagranderie M, Marchal G, Orgeur M, Bouchier C, Bachmann A, Ingersoll MA, Brosch R, Albert ML, Thalmann GN. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin strain differences have an impact on clinical outcome in bladder cancer immunotherapy. Eur Urol. 2014 Oct;66(4):677-88. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2014.02.061. Epub 2014 Mar 12.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 1998
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2001
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 1, 1999
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2004
• First Posted (Estimate): March 15, 2004

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 26, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2019
• Last Verified: June 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stage 0 bladder cancer; stage I bladder cancer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Urologic Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Urologic Diseases; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: SAKK 06/98; SWS-SAKK-06/98 (Other Identifier: SAKK); EU-98075 (Other Identifier: SAKK)

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