Testing two chemotherapy drugs directly in the bladder for resistant bladder cancer

This study is testing whether two chemotherapy drugs called Gemcitabine and Docetaxel, delivered directly into the bladder as a liquid treatment, can effectively treat high-risk bladder cancer that has stopped responding to BCG (the standard first-line treatment). About 174 people with this type of hard-to-treat bladder cancer will receive the medication once a week for 6 weeks, then continue with monthly treatments for up to 2 years. Researchers will track how well this treatment works and monitor for side effects.

Roughly one-third of patients with high-risk bladder cancer don't respond to BCG therapy, and their main remaining option is surgical removal of the entire bladder—a major operation with permanent life changes. This trial exists to see whether this medication combination, given directly into the bladder, might offer an effective alternative that preserves the bladder for patients who refuse surgery or cannot tolerate it.