New vaccine combo aims to train immune system to fight bladder cancer

NCT ID NCT05843448

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: University of California, Davis Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This early-stage trial is testing a new peptide vaccine (IO102-IO103) combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in 30 adults with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that did not respond to or could not tolerate standard BCG therapy. The vaccine is designed to activate the body's T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells, while pembrolizumab helps remove brakes on the immune system. The main goal is to check safety and side effects, with a secondary goal of seeing if the cancer disappears completely.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: PD-L1/IDO peptide vaccine (IO102-IO103) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
What this could lead to: If this combination works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with bladder cancer that hasn't responded to standard therapy, potentially avoiding the need for bladder removal.
What could go wrong: This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 30 participants, so it's primarily testing safety. The vaccine may not work as hoped, and side effects from the immune-boosting drugs could be serious.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

bladder carcinoma in situ non-invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HIGH RISK NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA STAGE 0A BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE 0IS BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8 STAGE I BLADDER CANCER AJCC V8

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sacramento, California, 95817, United States

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