The BLC6 urothelial bladder cancer clinical trial is now open nationally

The new BLC6 MODERN phase II/III clinical trial will investigate the role of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood to see if it is an effective guide for what type of immunotherapy is most effective. Researchers want to understand whether a blood test can more effectively determine who should get immunotherapy after surgery for bladder cancer and which immunotherapy treatment is best.

“Although immunotherapy improves outcomes in this stage of bladder cancer, only about 15% of patients benefit from it.  If successful, this study will help us identify – through a blood test – those patients who need more therapy and those who can safely avoid unneeded treatment,” says Dr. Bernhard Eigl, CCTG BLC6 trial chair and medical oncologist with BC Cancer.

The blood test can detect bladder cancer ctDNA in the blood including the presence of bladder cancer cells even if cancer can’t be seen on a scan. This test is believed to be able to determine which patients are at higher risk for disease progression or relapse

Participants with positive blood test results will receive a new drug for the treatment of bladder cancer in combination with the standard immunotherapy agent, which may help slow the growth of bladder cancer. For those with a negative blood test result, the study will investigate whether treatment with the standard immunotherapy agent is even necessary.

"This type of cancer treatment trial is heralding the holy grail of cancer treatment for patients like me. By using ctDNA as a biomarker, the trial hopes to demonstrate that more patients with the presence of ctDNA in the blood after surgery will achieve the desired positive outcome they hope for while enduring extra treatment, whilst those without ctDNA after bladder surgery will be spared unnecessary treatment,” says CCTG Patient Representative Erwin Wanderer.

This trial may help doctors determine if ctDNA measurement in blood can better identify patients that need additional treatment, if treatment with a specific immunotherapy is of benefit and whether additional immunotherapy treatment prolongs the life of bladder cancer patients.

• BLC6 patient information
• BLC6 members trial information