Randomized Controlled Double-blind Phase II Study to Compare the Efficacy of Perioperative Hypertonic Saline 3% Versus Normal Saline (0.9%) in Decreasing Recurrence Risk in Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is associated with a high recurrence rate. As a result, clinical guidelines mandate prophylactic treatment in all patients who experience tumor recurrence after the initial resection. This is in contrast to newly diagnosed patients in whom prophylactic intravesical treatment is usually not required. Intravesical prophylaxis consists of weekly intravesical administration of either bacillus Calemtte-Guerin of cytotoxic agents including mitomycin C. This is referred to as induction of therapy followed by various maintenance protocols for periods between 6 months and 3 years duration. These recommendations stand in addition to a single perioperative dose of chemotherapy which is the subject of our research. Consequently, the observed risk reduction for a given patient receiving both a solitary perioperative dose of chemotherapy and additional doses thereafter is the combination of both regimens. To avoid possible bias from induction and maintenance therapy, we decided to include in this phase II trial only newly diagnosed patients with small, superficial-looking tumors who would receive only immediate post resection chemotherapy and would not require subsequent chemotherapy treatment.

Intervention drugs Two NaCl in sterile distilled water solutions will be used. Normal saline comes at a 0.9% concertation as opposed to hypersal with a 3% concertation volume by volume. Both solutions are colorless fluids and both will come as 40ml doses in pre-loaded syringes. All instillation syringes will be coded and the key will be kept concealed by our study coordinator assuring complete double blinding.

Intervention All included patients will undergo a routine TURBT. The number, greatest diameter and site of intravesical tumors will be recorded. Upon documented complete resection blood samples for serum sodium will be drawn from all patients . Participants will then receive a 40 ml intravesical instillation of either Hypersal or normal saline and the catheter will be plugged for 60-90 minutes. After that the catheter will be opened and allowed to drain into a urine bag and blood samples for sodium will be taken again. Patient symptoms and postoperative complications will be recorded using the same instruments used in the previous Phase I trial.

Randomization Patients will be randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive either intravesical solution using a table of random numbers between 0-1.0. All patients with an allocated number <0.5 will receive normal saline whereas all with a number of 0.5-1.0 will receive hypersal. Treatment allocations will be determined by the study coordinator before the TURBT and analyses of endpoints will be based on intention to treat.