Intravesical Recombinant BCG Followed by Perioperative Chemo-immunotherapy for Patients With MIBC

Current treatment of localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer is still associated with high relapse and death rate as well as the need for complete bladder resection or irradiation. The primary objective of this trial is to increase the rate of pathologic complete remission (pCR) at the time of radical cystectomy by the combination of local bladder instillation with Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) in combination with systemic immunotherapy with atezolizumab and standard chemotherapy with cisplatin/gemcitabine. The trial tests the hypothesis whether BCG can enhance systemic and local immune response and thereby increase pCR rate and consequently also event-free survival. Improving pCR rate would be a next step to the ultimate goal of omitting radical surgery or extensive local radiotherapy to the bladder for these patients.

Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent according to ICH/GCP regulations before registration and prior to any trial specific procedures * Histologically proven urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder (cT2, cT3 or cT4a and ≤ cN1 (defined as a solitary lymph node ≤ 2 cm in the greatest dimension) and cM0) and be considered suitable for curative multimodality treatment including radical cystectomy by a multidisciplinary tumor board * All histological subtypes eligible with the exception of small cell component * Age ≥ 18 years * WHO performance status 0-1 * Hematological function: hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L, neutrophils ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L * Hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except for patients with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3.0 x ULN), AST ≤ 2.5 x ULN and ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN, AP ≤ 2.5 x ULN * Renal function: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \> 50 mL/min/1.73m², according to CKD-EPI formula * Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraception, are not pregnant or lactating and agree not to become pregnant during trial treatment and until 5 months after the last dose of investigational drug * Men agree not to donate sperm or to father a child during trial treatment and until 5 months after the last dose of investigational drug (www.swissmedicinfo.ch). Exclusion Criteria: * Any pathological evidence of small-cell carcinoma component * Presence of any distant metastasis * History of hematologic or primary solid tumor malignancy, unless in remission for at least 3 years after registration, with the exception of adequately treated cervical carcinoma in situ, localized non-melanoma skin cancer or low risk localized prostate cancer (T1-T2a, Gleason \ grade 1) * Active or prior documented autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (including inflammatory bowel disease \[e.g., colitis or Crohn's disease\], diverticulitis \[with the exception of diverticulosis\], systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis syndrome, or Wegener syndrome \[granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophysitis, uveitis, etc\]). The following are exceptions to this criterion: * Patients with vitiligo or alopecia * Patients with hypothyroidism (e.g., following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement * Any chronic skin condition that does not require systemic therapy * Patients without active disease in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the Coordinating Investigator * Patients with celiac disease controlled by diet alone * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active chronic Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B Virus infection or any uncontrolled active systemic infection requiring intravenous (iv) antimicrobial treatment * Known history of tuberculosis, known history of primary immunodeficiency, known history of allogeneic organ transplant, or receipt of live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to registration, or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during atezolizumab treatment or within 5 months after the final dose of atezolizumab * Severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure NYHA III or IV), unstable angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction within the last six months, serious arrhythmias requiring medication (with exception of atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia), significant QT-prolongation, uncontrolled hypertension * Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drugs according to the approved product information * Known hypersensitivity to trial drugs or to any component of the trial drugs * Any other serious underlying medical, psychiatric, psychological, familial or geographical condition, which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the planned staging, treatment and follow-up, affect patient compliance or place the patient at high risk from treatment-related complications.