Antarctic Krill Oil Functional Food Mitigates Bladder Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

• Registration Number: NCT06880939
• Lead Sponsor: Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Brief Summary

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of Antarctic krill oil in reducing side effects of intravesical therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). A total of 210 participants (18-75 years) will be randomized to receive either 2g/day of krill oil capsules (containing phospholipids, DHA, EPA, and astaxanthin) or placebo during intravesical treatment (epirubicin, pirarubicin, or BCG).

Primary outcomes include bladder irritation symptoms (IPSS score), systemic adverse events, hematuria, and urinary tract infections. Secondary outcomes assess quality of life (QoL). Safety will monitor adverse events per CTCAE v5.0.

The study follows GCP standards and includes rigorous data management and ethical oversight. Results may offer a dietary intervention to improve treatment tolerance and QoL for bladder cancer patients.

Detailed Description

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Antarctic krill oil functional food in alleviating side effects of intravesical therapy for bladder cancer. The study will enroll 210 participants (105 per group) aged 18-75 years with histologically confirmed non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who are scheduled to undergo postoperative intravesical therapy (e.g., epirubicin, pirarubicin, or BCG). Participants will be randomized to receive either 2g/day of krill oil capsules (containing phospholipids, DHA, EPA, and astaxanthin) or placebo (olive oil capsules) during their intravesical treatment period.

The primary outcomes include the reduction in bladder irritation symptoms (assessed via IPSS score), incidence of systemic adverse events (e.g., nausea, fatigue), hematuria, and urinary tract infections. Secondary outcomes focus on quality of life (QoL) improvements using standardized questionnaires. Safety monitoring will track adverse events related to krill oil or intravesical therapy, graded per CTCAE v5.0 criteria.

Statistical analyses will compare groups using t-tests, chi-square tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Cox regression models. The study anticipates a medium effect size (d=0.5) with 90% power and accounts for a 20% dropout rate. Conducted across three centers in China (Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, and Shandong Provincial Hospital), the trial adheres to GCP standards and includes rigorous data management, adverse event reporting, and ethical oversight. Results may offer a novel dietary intervention to improve tolerance and quality of life for bladder cancer patients undergoing intravesical therapy.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-16
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-16
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-18
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-18
• Study Start: 2025-03-20
• Primary Completion: 2027-03-20
• Study Completion: 2028-03-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 210

Inclusion Criteria

• 1. Diagnosed bladder cancer: The patient needs to be diagnosed with bladder cancer through pathological examination and have undergone bladder cancer surgery.
• 2. Planned to receive bladder infusion therapy: Patients need to plan to receive bladder infusion therapy after surgery and agree to participate in the study.
• 3. Age range: 18 to 75 years old.
• 4. Normal blood, liver and kidney function: Laboratory tests showed that the patient's blood routine, liver function and kidney function were within the normal range.
• 5. Signed informed consent: The patient understands the content of the study and voluntarily signs the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• 1. Serious comorbidities: including but not limited to heart disease, severe liver and kidney insufficiency, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, etc.
• 2. History of allergies: Patients with a known history of allergy to krill oil or perfusion drug components.
• 3. History of prior chemotherapy: Patients who have received perfusion therapy prior to this study.
• 4. History of other malignant tumors: Patients with a history of other malignant tumors.
• 5. Pregnancy or lactation: Female patients who are pregnant or lactating.
• 6. Psychiatric illness: Patients with a history of severe psychiatric illness or currently receiving treatment for psychiatric illness.
• 7. Poor study compliance: Patients who believe that they are unable to complete the entire trial process as required by the study.
• 8. Other: Other conditions that the investigator considers unsuitable to participate in this study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The degree of relief from bladder irritation symptoms.	From the start to the end of bladder instillation therapy，Monthly follow-up visits are continued until the end of perfusion therapy and last approximately 1 year	To evaluate whether krill oil can significantly alleviate symptoms such as urgency, frequency, and pain during urination, a symptom scoring system (e.g., the International Prostate Symptom Score, IPSS) can be used
Incidence of systemic adverse reactions	From the start to the end of bladder instillation therapy，Monthly follow-up visits are continued until the end of perfusion therapy and last approximately 1 year	Record and compare the systemic adverse reactions (such as nausea, fatigue, fever, rash, etc.) between the experimental group and the control group during the treatment period and after the treatment has concluded.
Incidence of Hematuria	From the start to the end of bladder instillation therapy，Monthly follow-up visits are continued until the end of perfusion therapy and last approximately 1 year	Record and compare the occurrence of hematuria in the experimental group and the control group during and after treatment.
Incidence of urinary tract infection	From the start to the end of bladder instillation therapy，Monthly follow-up visits are continued until the end of perfusion therapy and last approximately 1 year	Assess the frequency of urinary tract infections through routine urinalysis, urine culture, and symptom monitoring.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Quality of life score	From the start to the end of bladder instillation therapy，Monthly follow-up visits are continued until the end of perfusion therapy and last approximately 1 year	The quality of life of study participants during and after treatment was assessed using the Quality of Life Scale (Qol) The quality of life of study participants during and after treatment was assessed using the Quality of Life Scale (Qol).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University; 🇨🇳 Jinan, Shandong, China