NCT07353294

Propranolol With Tislelizumab Plus GC in Neoadjuvant Bladder UC

A Phase Ib Prospective Clinical Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Propranolol Combined With Tislelizumab Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin as Neoadjuvant Therapy for cT1-4aN1-3M0 Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is a prospective, multicenter, Phase Ib clinical study designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of propranolol combined with tislelizumab plus gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma with clinical lymph node involvement (cT1-T4aN1-3M0). Current neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy regimens can improve clinical outcomes in cisplatin-eligible patients; however, patients with lymph node metastasis show a significantly poorer pathological complete response (pCR) rate compared with non-metastatic cases. Real-world clinical observations have shown that more than 20% of patients achieve complete response in the primary tumor after immunotherapy but have persistent or progressive positive lymph nodes, suggesting unique resistance mechanisms within lymph node metastatic lesions. Preclinical studies conducted by our team demonstrated that sympathetic innervation within lymph nodes releases norepinephrine, which activates β-adrenergic signaling in metastatic tumor cells and promotes lipid metabolic reprogramming, leading to CD8⁺ T-cell exhaustion and immune resistance. Propranolol, a non-selective β-adrenergic blocker, may reduce metabolic stress and restore antitumor immunity, potentially enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. In this study, enrolled patients will receive oral propranolol in combination with intravenous tislelizumab and standard GC chemotherapy prior to surgery. Participants will be closely monitored for treatment-related adverse events, including cardiovascular events, hematologic toxicity, and immune-related reactions. The primary endpoint is dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Secondary endpoints include pathological complete response (pCR), pathological downstaging, safety, and survival outcomes. Exploratory analyses will evaluate changes in immune cell populations in tumor tissues, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood. The results of this study aim to provide evidence for new neoadjuvant strategies targeting lymph node metastatic bladder cancer and support the development of personalized therapeutic approaches.

Conditions

• Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma
• Lymph Node Metastasis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	propranolol	Propranolol will be administered orally as a non-selective β-adrenergic receptor blocker. Treatment will start at a low dose and may be escalated to a maximum of 40 mg twice daily if tolerated. Vital signs will be monitored regularly, and dose adjustment, interruption, or discontinuation may occur based on predefined cardiovascular safety criteria.
DRUG	Tislelizumab	Tislelizumab will be administered intravenously as an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody according to standard dosing schedules for neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Infusion monitoring will be conducted in a facility equipped for emergency management. Dose interruption or discontinuation may occur if immune-related adverse events develop.
DRUG	gemcitabine	Gemcitabine will be administered intravenously as part of the gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy regimen during neoadjuvant treatment. Hematologic parameters and organ function will be regularly monitored, and chemotherapy dose may be modified based on toxicity and tolerability according to institutional standards.
DRUG	Cisplatin	Cisplatin will be administered intravenously as part of the gemcitabine/cisplatin regimen. Renal function, electrolyte balance, and hematologic tests will be routinely monitored. Dosing may be adjusted or withheld according to predefined safety criteria and institutional guidelines for cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-01
• Primary completion: 2028-12-31
• Completion: 2029-06-30
• First posted: 2026-01-20
• Last updated: 2026-01-20