Influence of Hyaluronic Acid on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Local Side Effects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate a possible role of intravesical Hyaluronic Acid in reducing local toxicity of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) used to treat bladder urothelial cell carcinoma.

Detailed Description
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Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is considered the most effective treatment to increase disease-free interval and reduce progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) [1]. Although considered safe, BCG can produce both local and systemic side effects leading to treatment discontinuation or interruption. The most common local side-effects of BCG intravesical instillations include cystitis, characterized by irritative voiding symptoms and hematuria, which occur in approximately 75% of all patients. More rarely, serious local adverse events as a result of BCG infection, such as symptomatic granulomatous prostatitis and epididymo-orchitis, might occur and require permanent discontinuation of BCG treatment. Systemic side-effects include flu-like symptoms, such as general malaise and fever, occuring in approximately 40% of patients. A high persistent fever might be related to BCG infection or sepsis. Local and systemic side-effects might lead to discontinue intravesical BCG treatment in approximately 20% of patients [2]. Up to 54% of the patients undergoing intravesical therapy with chemotherapeutic agents to treat superficial bladder tumours can be affected by nonbacterial cystitis [3]. Several solutions have been proposed to reduce the occurrence of side effects from BCG with the aim to limit BCG discontinuation and the concomitant discomfort during endovesical treatment. Some Authors have proposed to avoid BCG administration in case of TUR within previous 2 weeks, traumatic catheterization, macroscopic hematuria, urethral stenosis, active tuberculosis, prior Bacillus Calmette-Guérin sepsis, immuno-suppression or urinary tract infection [4]. Other procedures include the prophylactic administration of isoniazid [5] or ofloxacin [6,7] or usually involve BCG dose reductions [8]. In common practice antimicrobials, anticholinergics, anaesthetics and analgesics are often used to relieve patients' symptoms. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) substitution therapy is an emerging treatment of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) and response rates between 30% and 80% have been described with intravesical administration of various GAGs (hyaluronic acid, pentosan polysulfate, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, and dimethyl sulfoxide) [9,10]. Few papers report the results of GAG substitution therapy in the treatment of radiation and chemical cystitis [9,10]. To our knowledge, to date, only two papers have described GAG use in the treatment of BCG local side effects; this papers show very good results, with significant reduction of lower urinary tract symptoms after intravesical administration of HA [11,12]. Aim of the present randomized pilot study was to evaluate if the sequential administration of HA and BCG could be safe in prevention of early recurrence and progression of bladder tumor, and safe in reduction of local side-effects in patients with high risk NMIBC.

Official Title
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Pilot Study of Influence of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Local Side Effects

Conditions
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Poisoning by BCG Vaccine

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Hyaluronic Acid
* Drug: BCG (Immucist®)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Histologically proven non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; Indication to intravesical instillation of BCG according to EAU guidelines; Age > 18 years; Willingness, to participate to the study; Written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Previous or ongoing BCG or different intravesical instillations; Urinary tract infections (UTI) or other known pathologies of the lower urinary tract; Indication for a radical cystectomy; Severe systemic disorders, including neurological pathologies, kidney, liver or heart failure; Contraindications to BCG use.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: BCG alone (Immucist®)<br>Group A receive BCG (Immucist® 81 mg, Sanofi-Aventis Group) alone | Drug: BCG (Immucist®)<br>* Usual BCG treatment<br>* Other names: BCG;|
| Experimental: Hyaluronic acid<br>Group B receive BCG and HA 40 mg (Cystistat, Mylan, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.). | Drug: Hyaluronic Acid<br>* Add hyaluronic acid to BCG Treatment<br>* Other names: Cystistat (Mylan, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.);Drug: BCG (Immucist®)<br>* Usual BCG treatment<br>* Other names: BCG;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual Analogue Scale for Pain | 1 to 10 scale (1 minimum pain perceivable; 10 unbearable pain, as perceived by the patient) | Before and after six weeks of treatment (end of induction course) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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BCG, hyaluronic acid, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, non bacterial cystitis