Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41178321›Full record

ArticleBJU international2026

Drug-releasing intravesical floating technology for sequential gemcitabine and docetaxel in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Ashley C Rhodes, Kaitlyn A McClintic, Emily Witt, Ikenna Nwosu, Kyle R Balk, Colin Reis, Ian C Sutton, Jianling Bi, Melinda Z Fu, Michael A O'Donnell and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJU international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Ashley C RhodesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Kaitlyn A McClinticDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Emily WittDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Ikenna NwosuDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Kyle R BalkCarver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Colin ReisDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Ian C SuttonDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Jianling BiWomen and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Melinda Z FuDivision of Urologic Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6853-5445
Michael A O'DonnellDepartment of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7202-6427
Vignesh T PackiamDivision of Urologic Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
James D ByrneDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Funding

Viral VectorP30CA086862 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI Christopher K Laubenthal · 2000 to 2026
$70.0M
Novel extremophile-inspired radioprotectantsDP2CA301081 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI BYRNE, JAMES DONALD · 2024 to 2024
$1.4M
Exploiting Carbon Monoxide Biofoams to Radio-Sensitize Rectal Cancer Cells While Protecting Normal BowelK08CA276908 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · PI James Donald Byrne · 2023 to 2026
$1.0M
American Cancer SocietyHolden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of IowaNCI NIH HHS DP2 CA301081NCI NIH HHS K08 CA276908NCI NIH HHS P30 CA086862NIH HHSUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Radiation Oncology
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo develop a drug-releasing intravesical floating technology (DRIFT) device for controlled sequential delivery of gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) to optimise the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) while enabling patient mobility and self-removal, as sequential intravesical Gem/Doce has been increasingly utilised but has logistical limitations requiring prolonged clinic visits and patient immobilisation. MATERIALS AND

methodsThe DRIFT device features a three-dimensional printed perforated tube with latex sleeve, dissolvable polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone end cap with adjustable fluorinated polymer (FluoroPel) coating, and patient-removal suture. A 14-F catheter is placed and intravesical gemcitabine is instilled. The deflated DRIFT device is inserted via catheter and inflated with docetaxel and air. The catheter is removed, allowing gemcitabine to dwell temporarily and be voided by the patient. The DRIFT device remains in the bladder and subsequently releases docetaxel in a controlled, delayed fashion, followed by patient removal. Its flexible, buoyant design supports patient mobility and maintains unimpeded urinary flow. Dissolution kinetics were evaluated using methylene blue, device performance was assessed in Merino sheep, and docetaxel tissue penetration was evaluated in rabbit bladder tissue using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis.

resultsThe DRIFT device demonstrated adaptable drug release through FluoroPel coating optimisation, with dissolution times extending significantly from zero to three coatings (P < 0.001). Docetaxel release kinetics plateaued between 2.0 and 3.0 mL volumes. Sheep studies revealed similar timed drug release as in vitro testing. Escalating gemcitabine concentrations enhanced docetaxel tissue penetration, with peak concentrations reaching 0.45 vs 0.08 mg/mL in controls. Extended gemcitabine dwell time (up to 4 h) further improved docetaxel delivery, achieving significant enhancement in deep tissue penetration (P < 0.001).

conclusionThe DRIFT enables controlled sequential delivery of Gem/Doce, reliably maintaining docetaxel containment for up to 120 min during gemcitabine pre-treatment. Future in vivo validation will establish safety and therapeutic potential. This platform has broader applications beyond NMIBC, including urinary tract infections and interstitial cystitis.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsDeoxycytidineDrug Delivery SystemsUrinary Bladder NeoplasmsAdministration, IntravesicalAnimalsDocetaxelGemcitabineHumansNon-Muscle Invasive Bladder NeoplasmsRabbitsDeoxycytidineDocetaxelGemcitabinechemotherapydocetaxeldrug deliverygemcitabineintravesicalnon‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer

Identifiers

PMID41178321
PMCPMC12789840

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.