Combining Immunotherapy and Radiation Therapy to Help Patients Avoid Bladder Removal After Treatment Shrinks Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, BRIGHT Trial
Single Arm Phase II Study of Bladder Preservation With Immunoradiotherapy After a Clinically Meaningful Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients With Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (BRIGHT)
- Muscle Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma
- Stage II Bladder Cancer AJCC v8
- Stage IIIA Bladder Cancer AJCC v8
At a glance
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Enrolment target
- 111
- Started
- 25 November 2025
- Main results due
- 31 July 2027
- Study sites
- 179
- Registry updated
- 29 September 2026
Can you take part?
- Aged 18 years and over.
- Open to any sex.
- You need the condition being studied — healthy volunteers are not accepted.
These are the headline rules only. Every study has a longer list, and whether you are eligible is decided by the research team at the site — never by this page.
Read the full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have histologic evidence of cT2-T4aN0M0 muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder within 180 days prior to starting neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) * Participants must have had CT chest/abdomen/pelvis (C/A/P), MRI C/A/P or PET within 60 days prior to starting NAT to determine cT2-T4aN0M0 * Participants must have undergone TURBT with biopsy of areas of prior disease and systematic biopsies (left and right lateral, dome, posterior wall and trigone) and radiologic staging showing clinically T0-T1 disease within 60 days after the last dose of NAT. At least 4 out of 5 systematic biopsies must be performed * NOTE: This TURBT must be within 90 days prior to registration. Registration must be within 90 days after the last dose of NAT * Participants must have imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis performed using CT or MRI preferably with contrast. Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG) PET-CT can also be used for staging. If FDG PET-CT is used, then it is at the discretion of the investigator if they want to additionally obtain diagnostic CT or MRI with contrast within 60 days after the last dose of NAT * Participants with lymph nodes ≥ 1.0 cm in the shortest cross-sectional diameter on imaging (CT or MRI of abdomen and pelvis) after completion of NAT must have a PET-CT within 70 days prior to registration. A biopsy in the setting of negative PET-CT is not required unless there is strong clinical suspicion for nodal involvement with tumor. Participants with a positive PET are deemed ineligible unless a biopsy is performed and shows no evidence of tumor involvement * NOTE: For questions regarding the above eligibility criteria, please contact the study chairs in addition to the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Statistics and Data Management Center (SDMC) * Participants must not have evidence of ≥ T2, or N1-3, or M1 disease after NAT * Participants must not have the presence of small cell, neuroendocrine carcinoma, plasmacytoid variants on any pathology * Participants must not have had urothelial carcinoma or histological variant at any site outside of the urinary bladder within 24 months prior to registration except Ta/T1/carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the upper urinary tract, including renal pelvis or ureter if the participant underwent complete nephroureterectomy * NOTE: Participants with mixed variant histology will be eligible for the trial if the majority (\> 50%) of the tumor is urothelial cell carcinoma * Participants will be allowed to continue PD-1/L-1 inhibitor therapy received as part of standard of care neoadjuvant therapy while they undergo pre-registration assessments (TURBT and imaging) * Participants must have received at least 3 and no more than 6 cycles of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NAT for MIBC. These include cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy (e.g. cisplatin and gemcitabine \[GC\] with or without PD-1/L1 inhibitors) dose dense or accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC) or enfortumab vedotin with PD-1/L1 inhibitor * Participants must not have had anti-PD-1, anti PD-L1, anti PD-L2 or anti-CTLA4 antibody, any other antibody or drug targeting T-cell co-stimulation, enfortumab vedotin, or any other drug targeting nectin-4 other than for neoadjuvant treatment for MIBC * NOTE: Prior intravesical immunotherapy or chemotherapy for non-muscle invasive disease is allowed * Participants must not have had prior pelvic radiotherapy * Participants must not have received a live attenuated vaccination within 28 days prior to registration * Participants with conditions requiring immunosuppressive doses of steroids (\> 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications must not be taking steroids at time of trial registration * Participants must be ≥ 18 years old at the time of registration * Participants must have Zubrod performance status of 0-2 * Participants must have a complete medical history and physical exam within 28 days prior to registration * Leukocytes ≥ 3 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Total bilirubin ≤ institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) unless history of Gilbert's disease (within 28 days prior to registration) * Participants with history of Gilbert's disease must have total bilirubin ≤ 5 x institutional ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x institutional ULN (within 28 days prior to registration) * Participants must have a creatinine ≤ the institutional (I)ULN OR measured OR calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min using the following Cockcroft-Gault Formula. This specimen must have been drawn and processed within 28 days prior to registration * Participants with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class II or better * Participants with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection must be on effective anti-retroviral therapy at registration and have undetectable viral load test on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated * Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured (defined as undetectable HCV viral load) * Participants must not have a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment (in the opinion of the treating physician) has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen * Participants must not be pregnant or nursing (nursing includes breast milk fed to an infant by any means, including from the breast, milk expressed by hand, or pumped). Individuals who are of reproductive potential must have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method with details provided as a part of the consent process. A person who has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months or who has semen likely to contain sperm is considered to be of "reproductive potential." In addition to routine contraceptive methods, "effective contraception" also includes refraining from sexual activity that might result in pregnancy and surgery intended to prevent pregnancy (or with a side-effect of pregnancy prevention) including hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation/occlusion, and vasectomy with testing showing no sperm in the semen * Participants must be offered the opportunity to participate in specimen banking * Participants who can complete the PRO-CTCAE questionnaire in English or Spanish will be offered the opportunity to participate in the optional patient-reported outcome study * NOTE: As a part of the Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN) registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system * Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines * For participants with impaired decision-making capabilities, legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants in accordance with applicable federal, local, and central institutional review board (CIRB) regulations
What this study is about
In the sponsor’s own words, from the registry.
This phase II trial tests the effect of giving pembrolizumab in combination with radiation therapy after chemotherapy in preventing surgery to remove the bladder in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Standard of care therapy includes chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink or get rid of the tumor. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Photon beam radiation therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses x-rays or gamma rays that come from a special machine called a linear accelerator. The radiation dose is delivered at the surface of the body and goes into the tumor and through the body. Giving pembrolizumab in combination with radiation therapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy may help prevent surgical removal of the bladder in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Study sites(179)
University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Recruiting
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Arizona, United States
Recruiting
Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Recruiting
Highlands Oncology Group - Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Recruiting
Highlands Oncology Group - Rogers
Rogers, Arkansas, United States
Recruiting
Highlands Oncology Group
Springdale, Arkansas, United States
Recruiting
Tower Cancer Research Foundation
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope Corona
Corona, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Duarte, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope at Irvine Lennar
Irvine, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope Antelope Valley
Lancaster, California, United States
Recruiting
Los Angeles General Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Recruiting
USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Recruiting
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Recruiting
University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sacramento, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope South Pasadena
South Pasadena, California, United States
Recruiting
Cedars-Sinai Cancer - Tarzana
Tarzana, California, United States
Recruiting
City of Hope Upland
Upland, California, United States
Recruiting
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
UCHealth - Cherry Creek
Denver, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
Shaw Cancer Center
Edwards, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
Poudre Valley Hospital
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
Cancer Care and Hematology-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
UCHealth Greeley Hospital
Greeley, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital
Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
UCHealth Lone Tree Health Center
Lone Tree, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
Medical Center of the Rockies
Loveland, Colorado, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital-Derby Care Center
Derby, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center-Fairfield
Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center at Greenwich
Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center - Guilford
Guilford, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Yale-New Haven Hospital North Haven Medical Center
North Haven, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center at Long Ridge
Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital-Torrington Care Center
Torrington, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center-Trumbull
Trumbull, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital-Waterbury Care Center
Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center - Waterford
Waterford, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Recruiting
Moffitt Cancer Center at SouthShore
Ruskin, Florida, United States
Recruiting
Moffitt Cancer Center-International Plaza
Tampa, Florida, United States
Recruiting
Moffitt Cancer Center - McKinley Campus
Tampa, Florida, United States
Recruiting
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, United States
Recruiting
Moffitt Cancer Center at Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, Florida, United States
Recruiting
CTCA at Southeastern Regional Medical Center
Newnan, Georgia, United States
Recruiting
Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Suspended
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Post Falls
Post Falls, Idaho, United States
Suspended
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Sandpoint
Sandpoint, Idaho, United States
Suspended
Rush-Copley Medical Center
Aurora, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center
Bloomington, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Illinois CancerCare-Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Illinois CancerCare-Canton
Canton, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Illinois CancerCare-Carthage
Carthage, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Old Irving Park
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Carle at The Riverfront
Danville, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur
Decatur, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee
DeKalb, Illinois, United States
Recruiting
Illinois CancerCare-Dixon
Dixon, Illinois, United States
Suspended
Showing 60 of 179 sites — filter to narrow it down. 169 of the 179 sites on this study are recruiting right now — a site can stop enrolling while the study as a whole is still open.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07061964. Trialion does not run this study, is not paid to refer anyone to it, and cannot enrol you. Eligibility is always decided by the research team at the site.
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