Could a common blood pressure pill boost immunotherapy for bladder cancer?
NCT ID NCT04848519
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding propranolol, a common blood pressure drug, to standard immunotherapy can help control advanced bladder cancer. The study enrolled 6 adults with urothelial carcinoma that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. Researchers are primarily checking for safety and side effects, while also tracking how long the cancer stays under control.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Propranolol hydrochloride (a beta-blocker) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or avelumab)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to make immunotherapy more effective for advanced bladder cancer by using a common blood pressure drug.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 6 participants, so results may not apply to larger groups. The combination could also cause unexpected side effects.
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
-
Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New hope for advanced bladder cancer? bevacizumab combo tested
- New cocktail of drugs takes on Hard-to-Treat bladder cancer