The purpose of the RAZOR (randomized open vs robotic cystectomy) study is to 
compare open radical cystectomy (ORC) vs robot-assisted RC (RARC), pelvic lymph 
node dissection (PLND) and urinary diversion for oncological outcomes, 
complications and health-related quality of life (HRQL) measures with a primary 
endpoint of 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). RAZOR is a 
multi-institutional, randomized, non-inferior, phase III trial that will enrol 
at least 320 patients with T1-T4, N0-N1, M0 bladder cancer with ≈160 patients in 
both the RARC and ORC arms at 15 participating institutions. Data will be 
collected prospectively at each institution for cancer outcomes, complications 
of surgery and HRQL measures, and then submitted to trial data management 
services Cancer Research and Biostatistics (CRAB) for final analyses. To date, 
306 patients have been randomized and accrual to the RAZOR trial is expected to 
conclude in 2014. In this study, we report the RAZOR trial experimental design, 
objectives, data safety, and monitoring, and accrual update. The RAZOR trial is 
a landmark study in urological oncology, randomizing T1-T4, N0-N1, M0 patients 
with bladder cancer to ORC vs RARC, PLND and urinary diversion. RAZOR is a 
multi-institutional, non-inferiority trial evaluating cancer outcomes, surgical 
complications and HRQL measures of ORC vs RARC with a primary endpoint of 2-year 
PFS. Full data from the RAZOR trial are not expected until 2016-2017.