SWOG 2427: Single arm phase II study of bladder preservation with immunoradiotherapy after a clinically meaningful response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (BRIGHT).
TPS913 Background: A subset of patients with MIBC who receive neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) prior to radical cystectomy (RC) have a pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of RC. With pCR rates of 22-42% in patients with MIBC following NAT (+/- ICI), whether a subset of patients with good clinical response to NAT can avoid RC is an important unanswered question, especially with the development of more active systemic therapies. HCRN 16-257 evaluated maintenance nivolumab in lieu of cystectomy in patients with MIBC who experienced clinical complete response (cCR) following neoadjuvant GC and nivolumab. The cCR rate was 48%, but 8/33 (24%) patients who elected bladder preservation subsequently underwent cystectomy for local disease recurrence. The RETAIN trial also evaluated omission of local therapy following neoadjuvant therapy with a 2-year bladder preservation rate in patients with ≤T1 disease following NAC of 54% (22/41). Of the 9/25 (36%) patients on that trial developed metastatic disease, 8/9 developed localized disease before metastasizing. These data illustrate the critical role that local therapy plays in patients with MIBC. For this reason, we believe that radiotherapy to the bladder combined with ICI will improve bladder intact event-free survival (BI-EFS). This trial also allows for patients to opt for bladder preservation based on a good clinical response to NAT. Methods: This is a single arm, phase 2 trial (NCT07061964) evaluating risk-adapted bladder preservation therapy for patients with MIBC following NAT. NAT consists of any NCCN guideline concordant therapy for MIBC. Patients with cT2-T4aN0M0 MIBC who complete NAT will be eligible if they have ≤T1 disease on post-NAT TURBT, confirmed by biopsies of prior tumor sites and systematic sampling (left/right lateral walls, dome, posterior wall, trigone). Patients will receive 55 Gray (Gy) in 20 fractions of radiotherapy (RT) to the bladder with 1 year of pembrolizumab. The primary objective is to evaluate whether 3-year BI-EFS is at least 70% in participants with < = T1 (without multifocal CIS) following NAT and RT with 1 year of pembrolizumab. Secondary objectives include local muscle invasive recurrence-free survival, metastasis-free survival (MFS), overall survival (OS), the rate of salvage cystectomy, and evaluation of the frequency and severity of toxicities in participants who receive RT and pembrolizumab. Plasma and urine will be banked for future correlative studies. S2427 was activated in September 2025 with an accrual goal of 111 patients. Clinical trial information: NCT07061964 .
SWOG S1602: A phase III randomized trial to evaluate BCG strain differences and priming with intradermal BCG before intravesical therapy for BCG-naïve high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NCT #03091660).
LBA629 Background: Whether BCG strain influences clinical efficacy is unclear. BCG shortages and a reliance on a single strain may impact disease outcomes. Evidence also suggests that priming with intradermal (ID) BCG vaccination prior to intravesical (IVe) BCG enhances anti-tumor immunity and cancer clearance. Co-primary objectives address these issues. Methods: The trial design calls for 924 eligible patients with BCG naïve non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (HG Ta/T1 +/- CIS or CIS alone) with negative purified protein derivative (PPD) to be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio, to IVe TICE (Arm 1), IVe Tokyo-172 (Arm 2), or ID + IVe Tokyo-172 (Arm 3) BCG, stratifying on age group and clinical stage. IVe BCG included 6 weekly instillations (induction) and three weekly instillations (maintenance) at 3 and 6 months (mo), then every 6 mo for 3 years. Objective 1 tests whether Tokyo-172 BCG is non-inferior (NI) to TICE BCG, specifying a NI hazard ratio=1.34 (84% power). Objective 2 tests whether priming with ID prior to IVe Tokyo-172 is superior to IVe Tokyo-172 (HR=0.71, 83% power). The primary endpoint is high-grade recurrence-free survival (HG-RFS) censored at last cystoscopy, using a one-sided α=0.021 for each test. A Cox model adjusting for the stratification factors is used. Secondary endpoints include adverse events, 6-mo biopsy-proven complete response (CR) in patients with CIS +/- Ta, T1, duration of CR, PPD conversion and HG-RFS, progression-free survival (PFS) and quality of life. Max follow-up is 5 years. Results: 1000 (984 eligible) patients were enrolled from 2/17-12/20. Median (IQR) follow up is 4.6 (3.6, 5.0) yrs. Median age (range) is 70 yrs (26, 99), 17% are female, 9% are non-white, and 34% had CIS at entry. HG-RFS, CR, duration of CR at 4 yrs, and PFS were similar among arms (Table). PPD conversion occurred in 29% and was not correlated with HG-RFS. Gr 1-2 AE rate was similar (67%, 71%, and 67%) and Gr 3-4 (no Gr 5s) rate was 6%, 11%, and 14% for Arms 1,2, and 3, respectively. Conclusions: Tokyo-172 is non-inferior to TICE BCG in terms of HG RFS and CIS CR and is similar for PFS. Gr 3-4 AE rate is higher with Tokyo-172. Priming with Tokyo-172 BCG does not improve HG RFS. PPD conversion is not prognostic. Clinical trial information: NCT #03091660 . CIS Component N (eligible) 5-yr HG RFS HG RFSHR (95.8% CI) @ 5-yrPFS PFS HR(95% CI) @ CR %(95% CI) 4 yr CR duration Tice Ive 333 (330) 58% 79% 62%; 71/114(53%, 71%) 80% Tokyo Ive 332 (327) 64% *0.82(0.63, 1.08) 79% *0.99(0.70, 1.39) 60%; 66/110(50%, 69%) 83% Tokyo ID + Ive 335 (327) 63% **1.00(0.76, 1.33) 77% **1.07(0.76, 1.51) 63%; 69/109(54%, 72%) 80% 3 mo. PPD + conversionY vs. N 782 evaluable225 (29%)557 (71%) 69%67% ^HR=0.91(0.68, 1.22) * Tokyo-172 vs. Tice, ** Tokyo Priming vs. Tokyo no priming. ^conversion to PPD + vs. – @ adjusted for 2 strat factors (and arms for PPD model). PFS event = MIBC, metastasis, or death.
Enfortumab Vedotin plus Pembrolizumab as Perioperative Therapy
Objectives To compare survival and oncological outcomes of cisplatin‐ineligible patients (Cis‐I) and cisplatin‐eligible (Cis‐E) patients with muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing immediate radical cystectomy (IRC), as IRC is currently considered the standard‐of‐care for Cis‐I patients with MIBC. Patients and Methods Data from patients with clinical (c)T2–4cN0–1M0 MIBC undergoing IRC, between 2006 and 2021, were retrospectively analysed from four tertiary care centres in the United States. Overall, recurrence‐free and event‐free survival were described using the Kaplan–Meier method and tested using the log‐rank test. For context, we compared survival outcomes against those in Cis‐E patients with MIBC undergoing IRC from the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)‐8710 trial. Results Overall, 379 Cis‐I and 125 Cis‐E patients with cT2–4cN0–1M0 MIBC who underwent IRC were included. Cis‐I patients included 44.8% cT3/4 vs 60% cT3/4 in the Cis‐E group. Overall, 83.3% of Cis‐I and 79.2% of Cis‐E patients died during follow‐up. The median event‐free and overall survival were 12.1 and 14.5 months for the Cis‐I group and 28.8 and 60.1 months for the Cis‐E group ( P < 0.001). [Correction added on 10 October 2025, after first online publication: The preceding sentence has been revised in this version.] Limitations include retrospective comparison of contemporary multi‐institutional data with that of a randomised control trial. Conclusions The Cis‐I patients with MIBC undergoing IRC fared poorly, with a median overall survival of 14.5 (95% confidence interval 11.1–17.9) months, mostly due to non‐cancer‐related deaths. These results provide a benchmark for clinical trials exploring novel agents or alternative chemotherapy regimens in Cis‐I patients with MIBC.
Efficacy of Intravesical Nadofaragene Firadenovec for Patients With Bacillus Calmette-Guérin–Unresponsive Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: 5-Year Follow-Up From a Phase 3 Trial
TPS354 Background: Carriers of germline pathogenic variants or mutations in BRCA2 and BRCA1 (referred to here as gBRCA1/2m) are enriched in metastatic prostate cancer (PrCa), and now have FDA-approved options for PARP inhibitors in late-stage disease. The NCCN guidelines recommends germline genetic testing for PrCa patients with metastatic, node positive and high risk localized prostate cancer. Prior studies have shown that gBRCA1/2m carriers with PrCa are more likely to have high-risk disease (6,7) and to develop lethal disease even after curative intent treatment (8,9). In other gBRCA1/2m-related cancers (breast, ovarian and pancreas), platinum-based regimens are part of neoadjuvant and front-line metastatic therapy options. Carboplatin is a well-tolerated, widely available and inexpensive DNA-damaging alkylating agent that is familiar to oncologists. The study hypothesis is that 4 cycles of neoadjuvant carboplatin, followed by radical prostatectomy for patients with localized high/very high risk PrCa and g BRCA1/2m will result in a meaningful pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. Methods: S2210 is a single-arm, open label study of 12 wks neoadjuvant carboplatin (4 cycles of AUC 5 every 21 days), followed by radical prostatectomy. Key eligibility criteria include people with high/very high-risk disease: cT3a or Grade Group 4-5 PrCa and/or PSA>20 ng/mL, have no evidence of distant metastases by conventional imaging (PSMA-PET-detected mets permitted if conventional imaging is negative and surgeon deems PSMA-detected sites resectable), who are candidates for radical prostatectomy and carboplatin, and have documented evidence of gBRCA1/2m through testing in a CLIA-certified lab. ADT prior to registration is permitted but must be discontinued on study. The study hypothesis is that the study treatment will result in ³30% rate of pathologic complete response (pCR, primary endpoint). A two-stage design will be used such that if ³1 of first 20 eligible patients achieves pCR, 20 further evaluable patients will be enrolled. This design has a significance level of 4.7%, and a power of 99%. Secondary endpoints include biochemical recurrence-free (at 2-, 3-, 5-yrs), metastasis-free and overall survival. Translational/correlative studies include analysis of 2nd allele inactivation in tumor, HRD signature, and ctDNA signature for monitoring of recurrence. S2210 was activated in August 2023. Clinical trial information: NCT05806515 .
Correlation of urinary comprehensive genomic profile with risk of recurrence of BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with atezolizumab in SWOG S1605.
529 Background: Radical cystectomy is recommended for patients with BCG-unresponsive (BU) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) due to high risk of progression. Improved methods for assessing these risks would greatly facilitate the potential for bladder preservation. Here, we tested the capacity of the urinary comprehensive genomic profile (uCGP) to predict event-free survival (EFS) in patients with BU-NMIBC treated with atezolizumab in the single arm phase 2 trial SWOG S1605. Methods: Urine was collected from patients with BU NMIBC (CIS, Ta, T1) treated with at least one dose of intravenous atezolizumab at baseline and before the 5th cycle of therapy (3 months). The uCGP was assessed using UroAmp (Convergent Genomics). Risk scores for recurrence at baseline and at 3 months were calculated by a prespecified machine learning algorithm incorporating alterations in 60 genes and low pass whole genome sequencing, and categorized as high versus low. Molecular response was classified based on change in uCGP between the two time points. Risk scores and molecular response were submitted to SWOG for clinical correlation with EFS using a Cox model, adjusting for CIS status. Time to event was calculated from date of study entry (baseline risk) or from the 2nd collection time (3-month risk) to first high grade (HG) recurrence or persistent CIS at 3 months. Death unrelated to bladder cancer and patients last known to be alive without HG recurrence were censored at date of last visit. Results: Samples were provided at baseline in 89 patients and before the 5th cycle in 77; 68 had both samples available for paired analysis. The risk score at baseline was classified as high in 69% of samples (73% for CIS ±Ta/T1 and 62% for Ta/T1). At 12 and 18 months the EFS probabilities were 26% and 23% for high-risk and 67% and 51% for low-risk patients, respectively, with a HR of 2.82 (95% CI: 1.58, 5.03; p<0.001). The risk score at the 3-month timepoint was classified as high in 81% of samples, and the EFS probabilities at 12 and 18 months after urine collection were 26% and 22% for high-risk and 80% and 72% for low-risk patients, respectively, with a HR of 3.39 (95% CI: 1.41, 8.13; p<0.006). Molecular response to treatment was classified as complete (CR) in 8%, partial (PR) in 14%, stable (SD) in 25% and progression (PD) in 46%, with 7% having no detectable genomic abnormalities at both time points. Clinical recurrence was observed by 18 months in 0/6 patients with CR, 7/9 (78%) with PR, 11/14 (79%) with SD and 25/33 (76%) with PD by genomic profile. Conclusions: This study suggests that uCGP at baseline and after 4 cycles of treatment can identify genomic patterns associated with an increased risk of HG persistence, recurrence or progression in BU NMIBC treated with immune checkpoint inhibition. Future studies will determine if this can be used to guide early treatment intensification.
4541 Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for patients with BCG-unresponsive high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but many patients are unfit for surgery or elect bladder preservation. This trial was designed to evaluate the activity of atezolizumab in BCG-unresponsive high risk NMIBC. Methods: This single arm phase II registration trial testing systemic atezolizumab (1200 mg IV) every 3 weeks for one year aimed to enroll 135 (70 CIS and 65 non-CIS) eligible patients with histologically proven BCG-unresponsive high risk NMIBC who were unfit for or declined RC. Here we report the 18 month results for all eligible patients who received at least one protocol treatment. The co-primary endpoints were pathological complete response (CR) rate at 6 months in patients with CIS (reported at ASCO 2020), and event-free survival (EFS) in all patients at 18 months using Kaplan-Meier methods (KM), conditional on a positive CIS response rate. A sample size of 135 evaluable patients provided 93% statistical power for detecting a 30% 18-month EFS rate versus 20% using a one-sided alpha = 0.05. EFS in the subset with Ta/T1 disease and duration of response in CIS patients were secondary endpoints. Results: 172 patients were enrolled, 166 received at least one dose of atezolizumab and are included in the safety analysis, and, of those, 128 were eligible and included in the efficacy analysis. As previously reported, 20 (27%) out of 74 patients with CIS attained a pathologic CR at 6 months. The KM estimate of 12 month (actual 11.9 mo) duration of response after 6 month CR for CIS patients was 54% (95% CI 30%, 78%) and the median duration of response was 16.5 months. The KM EFS rate at 18 months in 74 patients with CIS was 17% (90% CI 9%, 25%). The 18 month KM EFS rate in the overall population of 128 patients with Ta, T1 and CIS was 29% (90% CI 22%, 36%). The 18 month actuarial EFS rate in 54 patients with Ta/T1 disease was 45% (90% CI 34, 57%). Any possibly or probably treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) was observed in 142 out of 166 (86%) patients who received any atezolizumab regardless of eligibilty. The most frequent TRAEs were fatigue 72 (43%), diarrhea 34 (20%), and anemia 38 (23%). Grade 3-5 TRAEs occurred in 28 (17%) patients, including rash in 4 (2%), hyponatremia in 4 (2%), hypertension in 3 (2%) and elevated liver function tests in 3 (2%). There were two treatment-related deaths (sepsis and respiratory failure due to myasthenia gravis). Conclusions: The observed response of atezolizumab at 6 and 18 months in patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS suggests that this could be a valuable treatment to address a critical unmet need in this patient population. The 18 month EFS in patients with Ta/T1 disease suggests activity in this patient subset. This trial provided no new safety concerns. Funding: NIH/NCI grants: CA180888, CA180819, CA180820, CA180821, CA180863 and in part by Genentech. Clinical trial information: NCT02844816.
INTACT (S/N1806) phase III randomized trial of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without atezolizumab in localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Safety update on first 73 patients.
428 Background: Trimodality therapy (TMT) with maximal TURBT followed by chemoradiation(CRT) is a standard of care for select patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This trial evaluates the activity of atezolizumab (atezo) in MIBC in combination with TMT. This trial was designed with pre-specified safety analyses of the first 80 patients (40 in each arm). At the time of SWOG fall 2020 DSMC report deadline we had enrolled 84 patients but data on only 73 patients were available. The same data are being submitted to ASCO GU meeting. Methods: This trial is testing atezo every 3 weeks for 6 months given concurrently and adjuvantly with CRT vs. CRT alone in 475 patients with MIBC T2-T4aN0M0 disease. Patients are stratified based on PS; T2 vs T3 or T4; choice of chemotherapy; and radiation field (bladder only vs small pelvis). Patients undergo biopsy 3 months after finishing CRT to assess treatment response. Patients are followed for 5 years for recurrence or survival. This trial was not preceded by a phase I study but was designed with a safety run in of 80 patients. Study team agreed on the study design based on available data from other tumor types and initial experience from investigators running smaller similar trials. It was pre-specified that if we observe more than 25% patients having grade 3-5 colitis or cystitis in the atezo arm or any other toxicity which is deemed clinically significant and related to atezo, the trial investigators and DSMC would consider stopping further enrollment. Results: 36 patients were enrolled on the TMT alone arm and 37 patients on the TMT + atezo arm. No grade 3 or higher colitis was reported in the atezo arm. Only one patient had treatment related grade 3 radiation cystitis which was diagnosed after finishing atezo treatment. No steroids were given. Overall 23 grade 3 or higher toxicity events were reported in the atezo arm vs 11 in non- atezo arm. Most common toxicity was hematological which was considered non-immune related. None of the grade 3 or higher toxicities were considered to be immune related by the treating investigator. Conclusions: There is no evidence of increased immune related grade 3-5 AEs.DSMC has recommended to continue enrollment. Adverse Events with No Entries for Grades 3 to 5 Have Been Suppressed Clinical trial information: NCT03775265 . [Table: see text]