Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With or Without Propranolol Hydrochloride In Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma

This research study is an open label study designed to evaluate the safety and translational correlative changes of the combination of propranolol hydrochloride and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in subjects with urothelial carcinoma.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Metastatic Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma; Metastatic Renal Pelvis Urothelial Carcinoma; Metastatic Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma; Metastatic Urethral Urothelial Carcinoma; Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma; Stage IV Bladder Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Renal Pelvis Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Ureter Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Urethral Cancer AJCC v8; Locally Advanced Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma; Locally Advanced Renal Pelvis Urothelial Carcinoma; Locally Advanced Ureter Urothelial Carcinoma; Locally Advanced Urethral Urothelial Carcinoma; Locally Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Propranolol Hydrochloride; Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Avelumab

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the safety of the combination of propranolol hydrochloride and immune checkpoint inhibitors in urothelial cancer as measured by the incidence of adverse events according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To describe response and survival outcomes for ICI plus or minus propranolol in patients with urothelial cancer as measured by ORR per RECIST 1.1 (only for subjects receiving avelumab and pembrolizumab as ICI), profession free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

TERTIARY/EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To measure overall response rate (ORR) along with correlative changes in peripheral T-cell subsets, myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), blood inflammatory markers and blood cytokines before and after treatment for patients receiving ICI plus propranolol vs. ICI alone. Available archival tissue will also be collected for tissue-based assays.

OUTLINE:

Patients who meet eligibility criteria and consent for enrollment in the trial will be on one of the two study cohorts. Assignment to cohorts will be sequentially, in a 1:1 fashion, starting with the ICI plus propranolol cohort. The specific ICI that the subject would receive will be dependent on the clinical need and associated FDA approval.

ICI PLUS PROPRANOLOL COHORT:

1. Propranolol: Participants will remain on propranolol 30mg twice daily for the duration of the trial unless unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent. Patients who develop toxicity and stop propranolol will remain on trial for endpoint measurement.

PLUS

Pembrolizumab: Participants will receive 200mg IV on Day 1, every 3 weeks. Pembrolizumab would be continued for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

OR

Avelumab: Participants will receive Avelumab at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight, IV on Day 1 every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

OR

Nivolumab: Participants will receive Nivolumab (480mg) IV on every 4 weeks for up to 1 year or until disease recurrence or discontinuation from the trial.

ICI ALONE COHORT:

Pembrolizumab: Participants will receive 200mg IV on Day 1, every 3 weeks. Pembrolizumab would be continued for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

OR

Avelumab: Participants will receive Avelumab at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight, IV on Day 1 every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

OR

Nivolumab: Participants will receive Nivolumab (480mg) IV on every 4 weeks for up to 1 year or until disease recurrence or discontinuation from the trial.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days, then every 12 weeks for up to 2 years.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Georgia
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
      • Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA

1. Male or Female
2. Age ≥18 years
3. ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%, see Appendix A).

4. Patients must have histologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma planned for treatment with any of the following at the genitourinary oncology clinics of Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute under the list FDA approved indications:

   • Pembrolizumab: first line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy; or second line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy)
   • Avelumab: maintenance treatment in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma following no progression on first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy
   • Nivolumab: adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma in high risk of disease recurrence after undergoing radical resection. High risk disease as defined in Checkmate 274: pathological stage of pT3, pT4a, or pN+ and patient not eligible for or declined adjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for patients who had not received neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy and pathological stage of ypT2 to ypT4a or ypN+ for patients who received neoadjuvant cisplatin
5. Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function, within 28 days of Cycle 1 Day 1, at the discretion of the investigator.
6. The effects of study drugs on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, female of child-bearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to starting therapy.

7. FCBP and men treated or enrolled on this protocol must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and 3 months after completion of study drug administration. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.

   - A female of childbearing potential (FCBP) is a sexually mature woman who: 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 2) has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months).

8. Completion of all previous therapy (including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or investigational therapy) for the treatment of cancer ≥ 4 weeks before the start of study therapy.

9. Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification (Appendix B). To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class IIB or better.

   • Patients without existing cardiac disease that raise the risk of complications who consent for the trial will proceed with trial participation.
   • Patients with existing cardiac disease that could raise the risk of complications will be referred at the discretion of the investigator to a cardio-oncologist who is a co-investigator on the trial (or general cardiologist) for cardiac optimization prior to starting propranolol.
10. Life expectancy > 12 weeks as determined by the Investigator.
11. Willingness and ability of the subject to comply with scheduled visits, drug administration plan, protocol-specified laboratory tests, other study procedures, and study restrictions.
12. Evidence of a personally signed informed consent indicating that the subject is aware of the neoplastic nature of the disease and has been informed of the procedures to be followed, the experimental nature of the therapy, alternatives, potential risks and discomforts, potential benefits, and other pertinent aspects of study participation.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier (i.e., have residual toxicities > Grade 2).
2. Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents or an investigational device within 21 days before administration of first dose of study drugs.
3. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to the agents used in study.
4. Contraindication to ICI per investigator discretion.
5. Uncontrolled current illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
6. Significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, arterial thromboembolism, cerebrovascular thromboembolism) within 3 months prior to start of study therapy; angina requiring therapy; symptomatic peripheral vascular disease; New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure; or uncontrolled Grade ≥3 hypertension (diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg or systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg) despite antihypertensive therapy.
7. Contraindication to a beta blocker: cardiac conditions that significantly raise the risk of cardiopulmonary complications, including unstable angina, uncontrolled heart failure, symptomatic bradycardia, and severe asthma.
8. Current use of an oral or intravenous beta blocker (e.g. atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, sotalol, among other beta blockers) with inability to safely switch to a non-beta blocker agent. The washout for current users should be at least 14 days with enough transition period.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment (propranolol hydrochloride, immune checkpoint inhibitor); The specific ICI that the subject would receive will be dependent on the clinical need and associated FDA approval.	Drug: Pembrolizumab; Given IV as first line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy; or second line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy; Other Names: Keytruda; MK-3475; Lambrolizumab; SCH 900475; Drug: Propranolol Hydrochloride; Given PO for patients on the ICI plus propranolol arm; Other Names: Inderal; Drug: Nivolumab; Given IV as adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma in high risk of disease recurrence after undergoing radical resection; Drug: Avelumab; Given IV as maintenance treatment in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma following no progression on first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy
Other: Treatment (immune checkpoint inhibitor); The specific ICI that the subject would receive will be dependent on the clinical need and associated FDA approval.	Drug: Pembrolizumab; Given IV as first line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy; or second line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy; Other Names: Keytruda; MK-3475; Lambrolizumab; SCH 900475; Drug: Nivolumab; Given IV as adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma in high risk of disease recurrence after undergoing radical resection; Drug: Avelumab; Given IV as maintenance treatment in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma following no progression on first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of adverse events	Assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the toxicity profile of the intervention. Toxicities will be tabulated by grade, association, and cycle number.	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression free survival (PFS)	Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to estimate median survival time or time-specific survival rate with 95% confidence interval for PFS.	2 years
Overall survival (OS)	Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to estimate median survival time or time-specific survival rate with 95% confidence interval for OS.	2 years
Objective Response Rate (ORR)	Defined as the proportion of subjects only receiving avelumab and pembrolizumab as ICI.	2 years

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Immune profile and changes in selected biomarkers and cell subsets	Correlative changes in peripheral T-cell subsets, myeloid derived suppressor cells, blood inflammatory markers and blood cytokines before and after treatment, will first be described by summary statistics. Descriptive statistics on continuous data will include mean, median, standard deviation, and range (as well as geometric means and geometric coefficient of variation for pharmacokinetic parameters), while categorical data will be summarized using frequency counts and percentages. Graphical summaries of the data may be presented. Their correlation with clinical efficacy endpoints will be carried out by logistic regression model for ORR or Cox proportional hazard mode for time to even outcomes (OS or PFS).	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Emory University
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jacqueline Brown, MD, Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 20, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 4, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 14, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): April 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Urologic Neoplasms; Ureteral Diseases; Carcinoma; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urethral Diseases; Ureteral Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Urethral Neoplasms; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Organic Chemicals; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Naphthalenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Polycyclic Compounds; Amines; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Alcohols; Phenoxypropanolamines; Propanolamines; Amino Alcohols; Propanols; Nivolumab; Propranolol; pembrolizumab; avelumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00002186; P30CA138292 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); NCI-2021-00437 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); WINSHIP5200-20 (Other Identifier: Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No