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News
A phase 2 trial finds that intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) delivers durable results for patients with high-risk, BCG-naïve non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Recurrence-free survival hit 92% at 1 year and held at 80% at 3 years — with no disease progression during active therapy. These findings are now fueling a phase 3 head-to-head trial against BCG.
For patients with high-risk, BCG-naïve non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a chemotherapy combo may be a compelling alternative to the standard BCG immunotherapy. Updated results from a prospective phase 2 trial published in the Journal of Urology show that intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) produced durable recurrence-free survival over three years in a small but closely followed cohort.
The single-center trial enrolled 25 patients who received a 6-week Gem/Doce induction course, followed by monthly maintenance for 2 years. The median follow-up was over 50 months — giving researchers a solid long-term picture of how patients fared.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: BCG shortages have long been a challenge in bladder cancer management, making effective alternatives critical. Gem/Doce's durable efficacy and manageable safety profile make it a promising option — and these results are now supporting the ongoing phase 3 BRIDGE trial (ECOG-ACRIN 8212), which will directly compare Gem/Doce to BCG.
