Could sterile water match chemotherapy in preventing bladder cancer return?
NCT ID NCT04865939
First seen Aug 17, 2026 ยท Last updated Aug 17, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether rinsing the bladder with sterile water during surgery works as well as a chemotherapy drug (gemcitabine) placed directly into the bladder to prevent cancer from coming back. People with upper tract urothelial carcinoma who are having surgery to remove the affected kidney or ureter may join. The goal is to see which approach better reduces the chance of bladder cancer recurrence after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only โ not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Intravesical gemcitabine (chemotherapy placed directly into the bladder) compared with continuous bladder irrigation with sterile water during surgery
- What this could lead to
- If sterile water works as well as gemcitabine, it could offer a simpler, cheaper, and more accessible way to prevent bladder cancer from returning after surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 3 trial, but results may not confirm that sterile water is equally effective. There is also a risk of side effects from gemcitabine, such as bladder irritation or other complications.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
RECRUITINGDallas, Texas, 75390, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A simple blood draw could spot bladder Cancer's return
- Can a tiny ultrasound probe see how deep a urinary tract tumor goes?
- Two-Drug combo aims to shrink upper tract bladder cancer before surgery
- Could a drug combo spare bladder cancer patients from surgery?
- New drug duo aims to fight kidney cancer without losing the kidney
- Tiny camera could replace surgery for bladder cancer checks