CompletedObservational

Development of guidelines for treating patients with cancer-related blockages in the upper urinary tract

Some cancer patients develop blockages in the tubes that carry urine from their kidneys to their bladder. This is called malignant upper urinary tract obstruction (MUUTO). These blockages can make someone very unwell. Currently, doctors don't have clear, agreed-upon ways to treat this condition, meaning care can vary. This study will bring together medical experts to create new guidelines for diagnosing and treating MUUTO. By getting experts to agree on the best approaches, the study hopes to improve decision-making for doctors and lead to better, more consistent care for patients. This effort could also reduce unnecessary treatments and hospital stays.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

North Bristol NHS Trust

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jul 2025

Estimated completion

31 Jul 2025

Clinical guidelines for the management of malignant upper urinary tract obstruction (MUUTO), in cancer patients.

What is this study about?

This study is all about helping cancer patients who experience a specific problem: a blockage in the upper part of their urinary system. Think of the urinary system as a plumbing network – tubes carry urine from your kidneys (which filter waste from your blood) down to your bladder. Sometimes, if someone has cancer, the cancerous growth can press on or grow into these tubes, causing a blockage. This is called malignant upper urinary tract obstruction (MUUTO), and it can make patients very unwell.

While doctors can try to relieve these blockages – for example, by putting a small tube directly into the kidney or a stent (a tiny prop) into the urine tube – there isn't a clear, widely agreed-upon set of rules for how and when to do this. This means different doctors or hospitals might handle the situation in different ways, and it can be hard for patients and their families to understand their options. This study aims to fix this lack of clear guidance.

To do this, the research team will ask a group of medical experts for their opinions. These experts, who are experienced in treating MUUTO, will complete surveys about the best ways to manage the condition. By gathering and comparing their views, the study hopes to find common ground and create a clear, expert-backed set of guidelines. These new guidelines will help doctors make more consistent and effective decisions, ultimately improving care for patients experiencing these difficult blockages.

Key takeaways

This study aims to develop clear guidelines for treating cancer patients with blocked urinary pathways.
These blockages, called MUUTO, can make patients very unwell.
Currently, there is no standard way for doctors to treat this condition.
Medical experts from UK NHS hospitals will contribute their knowledge through surveys to create these guidelines.
The goal is to improve patient care by making treatment decisions more consistent and effective.
Improved guidelines could lead to better outcomes for patients and reduce unnecessary procedures.

Who may be eligible?

This study is not for patients. Instead, it's looking for medical experts to take part.

To be involved, you need to be a medical professional who works in a UK NHS hospital or clinic and directly looks after patients. The study is specifically interested in experts who are involved in patient care where these new guidelines would be useful for their work.

However, if you're not considered an expert in managing these types of urinary blockages, or if you don't work directly with patients, you wouldn't be able to join this particular study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a medical professional?
Do you directly care for patients in a UK NHS institution?
Are you considered an expert in managing urinary blockages caused by cancer?
Would you benefit from having clear guidelines for your clinical practice?
Are you willing to complete surveys about treatment best practices?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this study is for medical experts, not patients, the participation looks a bit different. Experts who are interested will first be given information about the study and asked to agree to take part by filling in an online form. Once they've agreed, they'll receive a survey online. This survey will ask them about their opinions on the best ways to manage urinary blockages in cancer patients. Their answers will help identify areas of agreement among experts. If there are big differences in opinions on some points, those questions will be re-phrased and sent out in a second survey to the same group of experts. Finally, the research team will meet with the participating experts to discuss and agree upon the final guidelines. The whole process is expected to run from May 2025 to December 2025.

Potential risks and benefits

For the medical experts taking part, a key benefit is the chance to help create important guidelines that will improve care for many patients. These guidelines could make treatment more consistent, potentially leading to better patient outcomes and possibly reducing unnecessary procedures or hospital stays. The main 'risk' for experts is the time it will take to complete the surveys and attend a final meeting, which could be an inconvenience given their busy schedules. The study team is designing the surveys carefully to make them as quick and easy to complete as possible. Participants are free to withdraw at any time.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Bristol Urological Institute
City only
Bristol, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is MUUTO?

MUUTO stands for malignant upper urinary tract obstruction. It means a blockage in the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, caused by cancer.

Why are these guidelines needed?

Currently, there aren't clear, agreed-upon rules for treating MUUTO, which means care can vary. New guidelines will help doctors make better and more consistent decisions.

Who is taking part in this study?

This study involves medical experts from UK NHS hospitals who directly care for patients with MUUTO, not actual patients themselves.

How will the guidelines be created?

Experts will complete online surveys, sharing their opinions on the best ways to manage MUUTO. Their answers will help form a set of agreed-upon recommendations.

When will this study happen?

The study is planned to take place between May 2025 and December 2025.

How to find out more

Jonathan Aning

Jonathan.Aning@nbt.nhs.uk +44 (0)1179505050 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.