Bladder cancer affects about 80,000 Americans each year, with most cases caught early when the tumor is confined to the bladder's inner lining. Standard treatment includes surgery to remove the tumor, often followed by BCG immunotherapy instilled directly into the bladder. Advanced disease is treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted drugs based on tumor genetics.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing checkpoint inhibitors earlier in treatment, antibody-drug conjugates that deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, FGFR inhibitors for tumors with specific mutations, and new combinations to reduce recurrence after surgery. Researchers are also studying bladder-preserving approaches and testing urine and blood markers to catch recurrence earlier.
Antibody-drug conjugates
Drugs like enfortumab vedotin attach antibodies to chemotherapy molecules, delivering treatment directly to cancer cells. Several of these drugs are now approved for advanced bladder cancer and being tested earlier in treatment.
FGFR-targeted therapy
About 20% of bladder cancers have FGFR gene changes that drive growth. Drugs like erdafitinib target these changes and are now approved, with trials testing them in combination with other treatments.
Checkpoint inhibitors
Drugs that release the immune system's brakes are now used for advanced bladder cancer. Trials are testing whether giving them earlier—before or after surgery—can prevent recurrence in high-risk cases.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on cancer stage, whether it's confined to the bladder lining or has invaded muscle, prior treatments including BCG, and tumor genetic markers.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new drugs or combinations for advanced bladder cancer, often comparing them to standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
- Recurrence prevention trials — Testing treatments after surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back, including new immunotherapies and intravesical treatments instilled into the bladder.
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs aimed at specific genetic changes in bladder tumors, such as FGFR mutations or other alterations identified through tumor testing.
- Bladder preservation trials — Testing radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy combinations to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer without removing the bladder.
- Biomarker studies — Testing blood or urine tests that might detect bladder cancer earlier or predict which treatments will work best for individual patients.
Recently added Bladder Cancer trials
Donate a blood sample to help develop personalized tumor models
This is a study : * Single-center * Prospective * Translational * Based on data and blood samples. In this context, the aim is to collect approximately 10 ml of blood from each patient included in the 3D tumoroid development project. The main objective is to establish and validate a panel of vascularized and perfused 3D tumoroids for personalized medicine based on patient tumors for urological cancers, incorporating autologous immune cells. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Share your bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment information
The purpose of this study is to understand how the participants with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer are diagnosed, treated, and cared for in regular clinical practice in Portugal. HR-NMIBC is an early-stage bladder cancer that is limited to the inner lining of bladder but has a considerable high chance of cancer coming back or worsening.
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