REtrieval of Transurethrally Resected Intact En-bloc Vesical Tumors Using a Retrieval Device for Bladder Tumors

Overview

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract, and approximately 75% of cases are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) at diagnosis. The standard treatment is transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT). En bloc resection (EBR-T), in which the tumor is removed in one intact piece rather than fragmented, offers superior pathological specimen quality and may reduce the need for repeat resections. However, extracting the intact specimen from the bladder through the urethra remains a critical technical challenge, particularly for larger tumors. CURTIS (Urotech GmbH) is a CE-marked retrieval device consisting of a hydrophilic-coated bag that can be opened and closed via a handpiece, enabling controlled capture and safe transurethral extraction of the resected tumor specimen. This study aims to evaluate the technical feasibility of CURTIS-assisted intact specimen retrieval following en bloc transurethral resection of primary NMIBC. The central question the study seeks to answer is: in what proportion of cases can CURTIS successfully retrieve an intact en bloc resected bladder tumor, and what is the maximum tumor size for which intact retrieval remains feasible?

Here is the Detailed Description for ClinicalTrials.gov: Study Design The RETRIEVE-BT Trial is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-randomized feasibility study conducted at multiple urological centers. No control group or randomization is applied, as the study is designed to characterize the technical performance of the CURTIS device under real-world clinical conditions rather than to test a comparative efficacy hypothesis. The CURTIS Device CURTIS (Urotech GmbH, Achenmühle, Germany) is a CE-marked medical device specifically developed for transurethral retrieval of intact bladder tumor specimens following en bloc resection. The device consists of a hydrophilic-coated retrieval bag that can be opened and closed via a handpiece, enabling controlled capture and safe transurethral extraction of the resected specimen. It is used within its approved intended purpose as defined by EU MDR 2017/745. Surgical Procedure All procedures are performed under general or spinal anesthesia. En bloc transurethral resection is carried out using a standard resectoscope with an appropriate electrode (e.g., bipolar hook, J-electrode, or needle electrode). A circumferential incision is made in healthy urothelium approximately 3-5 mm lateral to the visible tumor margin, followed by en bloc dissection at the submucosal or muscularis propria level. Once the specimen is fully detached from the bladder wall, CURTIS-assisted retrieval is attempted according to the manufacturer's instructions for use. If retrieval with CURTIS is unsuccessful, conversion to an alternative extraction method is performed at the surgeon's discretion and documented. Data Collection and Follow-up Data are collected prospectively via an electronic Case Report Form (eCRF). Intraoperative variables recorded include retrieval success or failure, reason for failure if applicable, total procedure time, and dedicated retrieval time. Resected specimens are processed by the local pathology department according to institutional standards; pathological variables include specimen dimensions, muscularis propria presence, pathological T-stage, histological grade (WHO 2022), and resection margin status. Postoperative complications are documented according to the Clavien-Dindo classification until hospital discharge. No additional study-specific outpatient follow-up visits are required. Statistical Approach This is a pilot feasibility study; the statistical approach is primarily descriptive. The primary endpoint will be reported as an observed proportion with exact 95% Clopper-Pearson confidence interval. A predefined technical feasibility rate of ≥80% is the threshold indicating clinical utility. Secondary endpoints will be analyzed descriptively. A threshold analysis will be applied to identify the maximum tumor size associated with successful intact retrieval.