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Taking people in TürkiyePhase 1/2

Tests MK-3120 as a bladder cancer treatment in adults

Tests MK-3120, given into the bladder, in adults with high-risk bladder cancer.

Key facts

Who runs it
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Where
Ankara and Istanbul, TürkiyeSee the 2 sitesAlso in 11 other countries, 15 sites
Trial code
Registry title
A Clinical Study of MK-3120 in People With Bladder Cancer (MK-3120-003)
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 1/2
People taking part
45 people, planned
Started
9 Dec 2025
Expected to end
28 Feb 2029
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • MK-3120
Record updated
10 November 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (carcinoma in situ, with or without papillary tumors) who recently had the tumor removed. It tests the study medicine MK-3120 put into the bladder.

Age
18 years or older
Sex
All sexes can join
Disease stage
High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without papillary tumors, confirmed locally. The latest tumor removal (TURBT) was within 12 weeks before joining. For papillary tumors (Ta and T1), all visible tumors must be completely removed.
Earlier treatment
Either BCG-naive (never had BCG, or had BCG more than 2 years before the cancer came back, with at least 24 months since the last BCG and a complete response in that time), or BCG-exposed (had adequate BCG and the cancer came back more than 12 months but 24 months or less after the last BCG dose).
Biomarker or test result
No specific gene change or marker is asked for. People with HIV must have well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy. Hepatitis B or C must be treated, with undetectable viral load.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Current or past locally advanced (T2, T3, T4) or metastatic urothelial cancer
  • Active urinary tract infection, total bladder incontinence, neurogenic bladder, urethral stricture, or a condition that prevents normal voiding
  • Uncontrolled serious heart or brain blood vessel disease within the past 6 months
  • Severe dry eye, severe Meibomian gland disease, blepharitis or severe corneal disease
  • Another cancer that is progressing or needed treatment in the past 3 years, or active brain metastases

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 18 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Has histologically confirmed carcinoma in situ (CIS) +/- papillary high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), confirmed locally
  • Is an individual whose most recent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed within 12 weeks before allocation and showed high-risk NMIBC histology. For individuals with papillary tumors (Ta and T1), a complete TURBT must have been performed, as characterized by attainment of a visually complete resection of all papillary tumors (Ta and T1)
  • Is either: a) Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-naïve, defined as either having never received BCG or having received BCG more than 2 years before CIS +/- papillary high-risk NMIBC recurrence. Recurrence must be at least 24 months from the last exposure to BCG with evidence of complete response during the 2-year period post-BCG OR; b) BCG-exposed and received adequate BCG therapy and had recurrence of CIS +/- papillary high-risk NMIBC >12 months but ≤24 months after the last BCG dose
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants must have well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy
  • Participants who are hepatitis B surface antigen positive are eligible if they have received hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks, and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to allocation
  • Participants with history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening

Who cannot take part

  • Has concurrent extravesical (ie, urethra, ureter, renal pelvis) non-muscle invasive UC or history of extravesical non-muscle invasive UC that recurred within the last 2 years
  • Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications
  • Has history of or current locally advanced (ie, T2, T3, T4) or metastatic urothelial cancer (UC)
  • Has active total bladder incontinence, active urinary tract infection, neurogenic bladder, or urethral stricture
  • Has a condition that would prohibit normal voiding (or holding bladder voiding for 1 to 2 hours)
  • Has uncontrolled, significant cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease, including New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, uncontrolled symptomatic arrhythmia, prolongation of QTcF interval to >470 ms, and/or other serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases within the 6 months preceding study intervention
  • Has history of documented severe dry eye syndrome, severe Meibomian gland disease and/or blepharitis, or severe corneal disease that prevents/delays corneal healing
  • HIV-infected participants with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease
  • Has known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years
  • Has active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • Has a history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease (ILD) that required steroids, or has current pneumonitis/ILD
  • Has known active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis

Where in Türkiye

Also in 11 other countries, 15 sites

  • Ankara University Health Practice and Research Hospitals (Site 0132)Ankara, TürkiyeContact: Study CoordinatorTaking people
  • Koc Universitesi Hastanesi (Site 0133)Istanbul, TürkiyeContact: Study CoordinatorTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR NMIBC). NMIBC is cancer in the tissue that lines the inside of the bladder and has not spread to the bladder muscle or outside of the bladder. In standard treatment for HR NMIBC, doctors first remove the tumor with a procedure called transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT). Researchers want to learn if using MK-3120, the study medicine, can treat HR NMIBC after TURBT. The goal of this study is to learn about the safety of MK-3120 and if people tolerate it.

The group in the trial

  • MK-3120Treatment being tested

    Participants will be administered MK-3120 once weekly for the first 6 weeks, followed by once monthly for 9 months.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov and on the EU's official list of trials (CTIS).
Official title
Phase 1/2 Study of Intravesical MK-3120 in BCG-Naïve or BCG-Exposed High-Risk Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Plain-language title
Tests MK-3120 as a bladder cancer treatment in adultsGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
10 November 2026