Gemcitabine with trastuzumab rezetecan before surgery for HER2-positive upper tract urothelial cancer

Trial details

Who runs it

Zhiquan Hu

Trial code

NCT07741448

Record updated

3 August 2026

Original description

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) carries a poor prognosis, with conventional GC (gemcitabine plus cisplatin) regimens achieving only a 19% pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the neoadjuvant setting. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown promising results in advanced urothelial carcinoma, Meanwhile the clinical application of traditional cisplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with significant limitations. Therefore, exploring the efficacy and safety of Trastuzumab Rezetecan (an anti-HER2 ADC) combined with gemcitabine in UTUC is of considerable importance.Read full original descriptionShow less

An Open-label, Single-arm, Multicenter Phase II Clinical Study to Evaluate Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine Combined With Trastuzumab Rezetecan in HER2-positive Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) carries a poor prognosis, with conventional GC (gemcitabine plus cisplatin) regimens achieving only a 19% pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the neoadjuvant setting. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown promising results in advanced urothelial carcinoma, Meanwhile the clinical application of traditional cisplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with significant limitations. Therefore, exploring the efficacy and safety of Trastuzumab Rezetecan (an anti-HER2 ADC) combined with gemcitabine in UTUC is of considerable importance.

This trial will enroll patients with HER2 2-3+ UTUC. After pathological diagnosis, patients will receive intravenous infusions of gemcitabine and Trastuzumab Rezetecan. The treatment regimen consists of a 21-day cycle: 4 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy, followed by 2 cycles of adjuvant therapy for patients who do not achieve pCR (total of 6 cycles). For patients with suboptimal pathological downstaging after surgery (≥ypT3 or ypN+), combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is recommended.

During the neoadjuvant period, adverse events will be closely monitored. Regular imaging and follow-up assessments will be performed, and events such as disease recurrence, progression, and their corresponding time points will be documented.

The primary endpoint is pCR rate. Secondary endpoints include adverse events during the neoadjuvant period, event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS).

Inclusion: The subject voluntarily participates in the study, provides written informed consent, and is able to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits; Aged between 18 and 75 years; Patients diagnosed with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who are candidates for radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision; Clinical stage T1N0M0 - T2-T4aN1M0 (evaluated by CT/MRI/PET-CT); Histopathology confirms urothelial carcinoma as the predominant component; IHC testing shows HER2 expression of 2+ to 3+; ECOG performance status ≤ 2; Laboratory parameters meet all of the following criteria:; Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L; Platelets ≥ 100 × 10⁹/L; hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L; Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN; Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5 × ULN; serum creatinine ≤ 3 × ULN; Cardiac function: New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification < Grade III.

Exclusion: Received live attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks prior to enrollment or plan to receive such vaccines during the study; Received systemic chemotherapy, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents, or HER2-targeted therapy within the previous 6 months; Untreated acute or chronically active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection. Patients receiving antiviral therapy may be considered eligible at the investigator's discretion with ongoing viral load monitoring; Uncontrolled concurrent illnesses, including but not limited to:; HIV infection (positive HIV antibody); Severe active infection with inadequate clinical control; Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., severe psychiatric or neurological disorders, epilepsy or dementia; unstable or decompensated respiratory, cardiovascular, hepatic or renal disease; uncontrolled hypertension defined as CTCAE Grade ≥2 hypertension despite medical treatment); Known hypersensitivity to gemcitabine, Trastuzumab Rezetecan, or any of their excipients; Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease; Known history of primary immunodeficiency; Known history of solid organ allotransplantation or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Active bleeding, newly diagnosed thromboembolic disease requiring therapeutic anticoagulation, or bleeding diathesis; Diagnosis of another malignant tumor within the past 5 years; Active tuberculosis; Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07741448