A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Cisplatin in Bladder Cancer, sponsored by Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group. Completed at 7 sites in Australia. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-27.
Sponsored by Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will enrol patients with maximally resected (via transurethral resection (TURBT) non-metastatic muscle invasive bladder cancer, who either wish to attempt bladder preservation therapy or are ineligible for cystectomy. Patients must have adequate organ function and performance status to receive cisplatin based chemoradiotherapy, and no contraindications to the use of pembrolizumab. The study will enrol 30 patients to be treated with pembrolizumab and radiotherapy.
All patients will be planned to be treated with 64Gy of radiation therapy in 32 fractions over 6 weeks and 2 days. All patients will receive cisplatin 35mg/m2 IV concurrently weekly with radiation therapy for 6 doses total. Pembrolizumab will commence concurrently with radiation and be given 200mg IV every 21 days, continuing until the 12 week cystoscopy and assessment.
Surveillance cystoscopy will be performed 12 weeks after the commencement of chemoradiotherapy, and assess the rate of complete response to therapy. A safety follow up visit will occur 4 and 12 weeks post cystoscopy. From week 31 survival follow up will commence with clinical assessment, cystoscopy and CT staging performed at intervals until 5 years.
The objective of the study is to assess the safety and feasibility of combining pembrolizumab with chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint assessed will be safety, as defined by a satisfactorily low rate of unacceptable toxicity (G3-4 adverse events or failure of completion of planned chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to defined parameters). The secondary endpoint will be efficacy, as assessed by complete response rate of the primary tumour at first post chemoradiotherapy cystoscopic assessment. Exploratory analysis will include assessment of tumour histopathological, molecular, genetic and immunological parameters.
It is expected that it will take two years to accrue the required 30 patients.
1,616 studies on the registry are indexed under Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; 421 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 28 is below the median of 60 across 1,163 interventional studies indexed under Urinary Bladder Neoplasms.
Browse Urinary Bladder Neoplasms studies →Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group is the lead sponsor of 9 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined below, all screening labs should be performed within 10 days of registering the patient on the trial.
Exclusion Criteria:
Unsuitable for concurrent cisplatin based chemoradiotherapy based on:
Has any history of active autoimmune disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Guillain-Barre. Exceptions to this are:
Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.
Pembrolizumab to be administered via IV 200mg 3 weekly commenced concurrently with chemoradiotherapy, and continuing until 12 week cystoscopy.
Drug: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Radiation: Radiotherapy
200 mg/m2, IV (in the vein) on day 1 every three weeks (Weeks 1, 3, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19). until progression or unacceptable toxicity develops.
35 mg/m2, IV (in the vein) every week for six weeks.
2.00Gy once daily for 32 fractions, 5 fractions/week over six weeks and two days (a total of 64Gy).
The Number of Participants Experiencing an Unacceptable Level of Toxicity as Defined Below
Unacceptable toxicity was predefined as fitting one of the following categories. * Grade 3 or worse adverse event per CTCAE V 5.0 (excluding urinary adverse events Grade 3 and Grade 4) * Cisplatin is withheld for 2 or more doses * Cisplatin is withheld or dose reduced such that \<66% of the intended total cisplatin dose is delivered * Radiation therapy extended beyond 7 weeks * Any single pembrolizumab dose is delayed for \>6 weeks
Time frame: 12 weeks of study treatment
Complete Response Rate at Week 19 of the Trial (12 Weeks Post Completion of Chemoradiotherapy).
Complete response defined at this time point by fulfillment of all of the following criteria: i) the bi-manual examination under anesthesia is negative (performed at the time of cystoscopy) ii) All biopsies are negative for any tumor at the site(s) of pre-treatment tumor(s) iii) There is an absence of metastatic disease on most recently performed imaging of chest/abdomen and pelvis
Time frame: Week 19 (12 weeks post chemotherapy)
The Complete Response Rate Assessed at Week 31 of the Trial (24 Weeks Post Completion of Chemoradiotherapy).
Complete response defined at this time point by fulfillment of all of the following criteria: i) the bi-manual examination under anesthesia is negative (performed at the time of cystoscopy) ii) All biopsies are negative for any tumor at the site(s) of pre-treatment tumor(s) iii) There is an absence of metastatic disease on most recently performed imaging of chest/abdomen and pelvis
Time frame: Week 31 of the trial (24 weeks post completion of chemoradiotherapy)
Estimated Median Overall Survival
Estimation after characterization with a Kaplan Meier curve
Time frame: median follow up 39 months
Overall Survival at 12 Months Post Study Entry
Overall survival timepoint estimated after characterization on a Kaplan Meier curve
Time frame: 12 months post study entry
Distant Metastasis Free Survival (DMFS) at 12 Months
End point was characterized using a Kaplan Meier curve and 12 month time point assessed.
Time frame: At 12 months post study entry
Local Disease Free Survival (LRPFS) at 12 Months
Local recurrence was defined as recurrence in the bladder or a nodal recurrence in the pelvis
Time frame: 12 months post therapy commencement
The Abundance and Composition of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes, as Assessed by Immunohistochemical Analysis, of Patients Pre-treatment Tissue Samples.
Resected tumour specimens will be available from the patients enrolled on the trial. These pre-treatment specimens will be comprehensively profiled for the abundance and composition of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, CD3, CD20 and FoxP3 positive cells) by immunohistochemistry using the state-of-the-art Vectra Automated Imaging system which enables multiplexed immunohistochemical analysis.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 7 years.
Changes in Gene Expression in CD3+ Cells Pre and Post-treatment as Assessed by RNAseq Analysis to Assess for Gene Expression Changes Associated With Immune Activation.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 7 years.
Changes in the Immune Regulatory Molecules OX-40/LAG3/PD1/ICOS on T Cell Subsets as Assessed by Flow Cytometry.
Blood samples collected prior to treatment, at the end of chemoradiotherapy, and after 24 weeks will be collected from the patients on the trial. PBMCs will be isolated using Ficoll, and changes in specific immune subpopulations (number/ratio) determined by multi-parameter FACS. Changes in the immune regulatory molecules OX-40/LAG3/PD1/ICOS on T cell subsets will be assessed by flow cytometry.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 7 years.
| Milestone | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Started | 28 |
| Completed | 27 |
| Not completed | 1 |
| Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject | 1 |
Unacceptable toxicity was predefined as fitting one of the following categories. * Grade 3 or worse adverse event per CTCAE V 5.0 (excluding urinary adverse events Grade 3 and Grade 4) * Cisplatin is withheld for 2 or more doses * Cisplatin is withheld or dose reduced such that \<66% of the intended total cisplatin dose is delivered * Radiation therapy extended beyond 7 weeks * Any single pembrolizumab dose is delayed for \>6 weeks
| Participants | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Unacceptable toxicity - total | 9 |
| Grade 3 or higher adverse event | 6 |
| Immune mediated toxicity meeting unacceptable toxicity definition. | 2 |
| Cisplatin dose omissions 2 or greater | 4 |
| Radiation duration >7 weeks | 2 |
| Pembrolizumab >6 weeks delay | 1 |
Complete response defined at this time point by fulfillment of all of the following criteria: i) the bi-manual examination under anesthesia is negative (performed at the time of cystoscopy) ii) All biopsies are negative for any tumor at the site(s) of pre-treatment tumor(s) iii) There is an absence of metastatic disease on most recently performed imaging of chest/abdomen and pelvis
| Percentage of evaluable population | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Complete Response Rate at Week 19 of the Trial (12 Weeks Post Completion of Chemoradiotherapy). | 90 (70 to 99) |
Complete response defined at this time point by fulfillment of all of the following criteria: i) the bi-manual examination under anesthesia is negative (performed at the time of cystoscopy) ii) All biopsies are negative for any tumor at the site(s) of pre-treatment tumor(s) iii) There is an absence of metastatic disease on most recently performed imaging of chest/abdomen and pelvis
| Percentage of evaluable population | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| The Complete Response Rate Assessed at Week 31 of the Trial (24 Weeks Post Completion of Chemoradiotherapy). | 88 (70 to 98) |
Estimation after characterization with a Kaplan Meier curve
| months | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Estimated Median Overall Survival | 39 (17 to NA) |
Overall survival timepoint estimated after characterization on a Kaplan Meier curve
| Percentage of evaluable population | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Overall Survival at 12 Months Post Study Entry | 92 (72 to 98) |
End point was characterized using a Kaplan Meier curve and 12 month time point assessed.
| Percentage of population | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Distant Metastasis Free Survival (DMFS) at 12 Months | 85 (64 to 94) |
Local recurrence was defined as recurrence in the bladder or a nodal recurrence in the pelvis
| Percentage of evaluable population | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Local Disease Free Survival (LRPFS) at 12 Months | 88 (68 to 98) |
Resected tumour specimens will be available from the patients enrolled on the trial. These pre-treatment specimens will be comprehensively profiled for the abundance and composition of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, CD3, CD20 and FoxP3 positive cells) by immunohistochemistry using the state-of-the-art Vectra Automated Imaging system which enables multiplexed immunohistochemical analysis.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Blood samples collected prior to treatment, at the end of chemoradiotherapy, and after 24 weeks will be collected from the patients on the trial. PBMCs will be isolated using Ficoll, and changes in specific immune subpopulations (number/ratio) determined by multi-parameter FACS. Changes in the immune regulatory molecules OX-40/LAG3/PD1/ICOS on T cell subsets will be assessed by flow cytometry.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Collected over Adverse events were collected over the period of enrollment in the study (Planned out to 5 years post commencement) the median follow up at the conclusion of the trial was 39 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 3.5% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab | 8/28 (28.6%) | 13/28 (46.4%) | 27/28 (96.4%) |
| Event | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations | 2/28 |
| HaematuriaRenal and urinary disorders | 2/28 |
| FeverGeneral disorders | 2/28 |
| Renal and urinary discorders (other)Renal and urinary disorders | 1/28 |
| Musculoskeletal and Conncective tissue disorder (other)Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 1/28 |
| HypetensionVascular disorders | 1/28 |
| Cystitis noninfectiveRenal and urinary disorders | 1/28 |
| Infusion related reactionProduct Issues | 1/28 |
| Metabolism and nutritional disorder (other)Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 1/28 |
| DelusionsPsychiatric disorders | 1/28 |
| Event | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| FatigueGeneral disorders | 19/28 |
| Urinary frequencyRenal and urinary disorders | 16/28 |
| DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders | 14/28 |
| ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders | 10/28 |
| HaematuriaRenal and urinary disorders | 9/28 |
| Rash MaculopapularSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 9/28 |
| Cystitis NoninfectiveRenal and urinary disorders | 6/28 |
| NauseaGastrointestinal disorders | 6/28 |
| AnaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders | 4/28 |
| HypothyroidismEndocrine disorders | 4/28 |
| Age, Continuous(years) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Median | 72 (58 to 86) |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Female | 2 |
| Male | 26 |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|
| Region of Enrollment(participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Australia | 28 |
| ECOG(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| ECOG 0 | 18 |
| ECOG 1 | 10 |
| Histology(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Transitional cell/ Urothelial | 25 |
| Mixed Transitional/ nontransitional | 3 |
| Associated carcinoma in situ | 9 |
| T stage(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| T2 | 26 |
| T3 | 2 |
| Prior BCG (Bacillis Calmette-Guerin vaccine) treatment(Participants) | Pembrolizumab |
|---|---|
| Count of participants | 2 |
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Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group