Prospective randomized comparison of intravesical with percutaneous bacillus Calmette-Guerin versus intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin in superficial bladder cancer

Seminal papers in urology: maintenance Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy for recurrent Ta, T1 and carcinoma in situ transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a randomized southwest oncology group study (SWOG-8507)

The South West Oncology Group's 2000 randomised-control trial investigated the addition of maintenance intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma (NMIUC) treatment. The results were published when the efficacy of BCG immunotherapy maintenance was unclear.Randomisation produced two arms, each containing 192 patients assessed to be at high risk of recurrence following induction BCG therapy for NMIUC. The treatment arm went on to receive three successive weekly intravesical and percutaneous BCG administrations at three months, six months and then six monthly for three years from the start of induction therapy.Recurrence free-survival (RFS), was higher in the maintenance arm with 41% (95%CI 35-49) RFS at five years in the control arm and 60% RFS (53-67 95% CI) in the maintenance arm (p < 0.0001). Only 16% of patients in the treatment arm received all of the scheduled maintenance courses of BCG.The study's seminal results correlate with contemporary systematic review and have guided international guidelines.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Therapy for Bladder Cancer: An Update

Physicians treating patients affected by nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) have been in shock during the last six years since manufacturing restrictions on the production of the first-option medicine, Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), have resulted in worldwide shortages. This shortage of BCG has led to a rethinking of the established treatment guidelines for the rationing of the administration of BCG. Some possible schedule modifications consist of a decrease in the length of maintenance treatment, a reduction in the dose of BCG in intravesical instillations or the use of different BCG substrains. All these strategies have been considered valuable in times of BCG shortage. In addition, the lack of availability of BCG has also led to the general recognition of the need to find new treatment options for these patients so that they are not dependent on a single treatment. Few alternatives are committed to definitively replacing BCG intravesical instillations, but several options are being evaluated to improve its efficacy or to combine it with other chemotherapeutic or immunotherapeutic options that can also improve its effect. In this article, we review the current state of the treatment with BCG in terms of all of the aforementioned aspects.

Mechanisms of immune evasion in bladder cancer

With the introduction of multiple new agents, the role of immunotherapy is rapidly expanding across all malignancies. Bladder cancer is known to be immunogenic and is responsive to immunotherapy including intravesical BCG and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Multiple trials have addressed the role of checkpoint inhibitors in advanced bladder cancer, including atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab (all targeting the PD1/PD-L1 pathway). While these trials have demonstrated promising results and improvements over existing therapies, less than half of patients with advanced disease demonstrate clinical benefit from checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Recent breakthroughs in cancer biology and immunology have led to an improved understanding of the influence of the tumor microenvironment on the host’s immune system. It appears that tumors promote the formation of highly immunosuppressive microenvironments preventing generation of effective anti-tumor immune response through multiple mechanisms. Therefore, reconditioning of the tumor microenvironment and restoration of the competent immune response is essential for achieving optimal efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we aim to discuss the major mechanisms of immune evasion in bladder cancer and highlight novel pathways and molecular targets that may help to attenuate tumor-induced immune tolerance, overcome resistance to immunotherapy and improve clinical outcomes.

Percutaneous BCG enhances innate effector antitumor cytotoxicity during treatment of bladder cancer: a translational clinical trial

Background: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the gold standard immunologic agent for treating patients with high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Nevertheless, relapse rates remain high and BCG unresponsive NMIBC often requires bladder removal. Preclinical data suggest that priming with percutaneous BCG vaccine could improve response to intravesical BCG. Methods: A single-arm trial (NCT02326168) was performed to study the safety, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy of priming. Percutaneous BCG was given 21 days prior to intravesical BCG instillation in patients (n = 13) with high-risk NMIBC. Immune responses were monitored and compared to a sequentially enrolled cohort of nine control patients receiving only intravesical BCG. The effect of BCG on natural killer (NK) and γδ T cell in vitro cytotoxicity was tested. γδ T cell subsets were determined by T cell receptor gene expression with NanoString. Results: Priming was well tolerated and caused no grade ≥3 adverse events. The 3-month disease-free rate for prime patients was 85% (target goal ≥ 75%). Priming boosted BCG-specific immunity at 3 months and increased the activation status of in vitro expanded circulating NK and γδ T cells and their cytotoxicity against bladder cancer cells through receptor NKG2D. BCG enhanced the cytotoxicity of NK and γδ T cells against K562, RT4, and UM-UC6 but not against T24, UM-UC-3, or UM-UC-14 cells. Infiltrating γδ T cell subsets identified in the bladder includes γ9δ2 and γ8δ2. Conclusions: BCG priming is safe and tolerable. Poor sensitivity to NK and γδ T cell cytotoxicity by some bladder tumors represents a potential BCG-resistance mechanism.

Tuberculous Spondylitis following Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin for Bladder Cancer

We present a rare case of tuberculous spondylitis following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for bladder cancer. An 82-year-old man presented with low back pain. Past medical history revealed bladder cancer diagnosed and treated 16 months previously by intravesical BCG. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed destruction of the T5 and T6 vertebrae and an epidural soft tissue mass with anterior dural sac compression. Due to the progression of vertebral destruction, posterior spinal segmental fusion was performed. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) was identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction of surgical tissue specimens. The patient was started on an antituberculosis treatment regimen including isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. After surgery, his back pain resolved completely. At the latest examination, the patient was pain-free with no functional limitations or recurrent infection in clinical or imaging findings. Patients undergoing BCG therapy should be monitored for possible hematogenous spread of mycobacteria to the spine for months or even years after treatment.

Bacille-Calmette-Guerin non-responders: how to manage

Intravesical immunotherapy with bacille-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is indicated in the treatment of high-risk and intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Our goal is to describe the various disease states following induction and maintenance BCG and to describe contemporary treatment options and the current and projected clinical trial landscape for patients who recur following BCG therapy.

Immune therapies in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) continues to be a challenging disease to manage. Treatment involves transurethral resection and, often, intravesical therapy. Appropriate patient selection, accurate staging, and morphological characterization are vital in risk-stratifying patients to those who would most benefit from receiving intravesical therapy. Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) continues to be the first-line agent of choice for patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. Treatment should begin with the standard induction course of 6 weekly treatments. The inclusion of subsequent maintenance courses of BCG is imperative to optimal therapeutic response. While patients with intermediate-risk disease should receive 1 year of maintenance therapy, high-risk patients benefit from up to 3 years of maintenance therapy. BCG use should not be used in low-risk patients with de novo Ta, low-grade, solitary, <3-cm tumors. Conversely, patients with muscle-invasive disease should forgo intravesical immunotherapy and proceed directly to radical cystectomy. Cystectomy also should be considered in patients with multiple T1 tumors, T1 tumors located in difficult to resect locations, residual T1 on re-resection, and T1 with concomitant CIS. Although promising new immunotherapeutic agents, such as Urocidin, protein-based vaccines, and immune check point inhibitors are undergoing preclinical and clinical investigation, immunotherapy in bladder cancer remains largely reliant on intravesical BCG with surgical consolidation as the standard salvage treatment for patients with BCG failure.

Intravesical therapy for superficial bladder cancer: a systematic review of randomised trials and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

In 2002 there were estimated to be 357,000 new cases of bladder cancer worldwide and 145,000 deaths making bladder cancer the 9th most common malignancy globally. At diagnosis, 60-80% of tumours are superficial and endoscopic resection is the initial treatment for this disease. In patients with low, medium or high risk disease, about 20%, 40% and 90%, respectively, will develop tumour recurrence. To delay or prevent recurrence, intravesical therapy is routinely used. Commonly used intravesical agents include immunotherapy with BCG and chemotherapy with cytotoxics such as Mitomycin C, Adriamycin, Epirubicin and Gemcitabine. However, controversy exists as to which agent and schedule should be used.

METHODS

An overarching search of the literature was used to identify relevant studies to assess the clinical benefit of intravesical therapy and provide clinical guidance in a comprehensive systematic review of randomised trials and meta-analyses of intravesical therapy for superficial bladder cancer. Findings and interpretation the search identified over 80 randomised trials and 11 meta-analyses. The extensive evidence suggests that an immediate post-operative instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent, such as Mitomycin C or Epirubicin, is effective in reducing tumour recurrence. In intermediate or high risk patients, further intravesical induction and maintenance therapy with BCG is recommended.

CONCLUSION

Intravesical chemotherapy with either Mitomycin C or Epirubicin would be an option for those patients failing or who are unsuitable for BCG therapy. Intravesical BCG is superior to chemotherapy in terms of complete response and disease-free survival. However, there is no conclusive evidence that one agent is superior in terms of overall survival.

Predictive value of telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in patients with high risk superficial bladder cancer treated with adjuvant BCG immunotherapy

PURPOSE

We conducted a prospective study to determine whether expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is associated with recurrence-free-survival (RFS) or development of invasive disease in patients with high risk superficial bladder cancer (SBC) that received adjuvant BCG immunotherapy.

METHODS

Thirty patients with high-grade T1 tumors were evaluated. Pre-BCG TURBT and post-BCG specimens were analyzed for hTERT nucleolar expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Post-BCG hTERT expression was statistically significantly lower than pre-BCG hTERT expression. Pre-BCG hTERT nucleolar staining in more than 75% of cells was associated with worse RFS (9 months vs. not yet reached, P = 0.05), while post-BCG hTERT nucleolar staining in more than 50% of the cells was associated with worse RFS (6 months vs. not yet reached, P = 0.001) and development of invasive disease. In multivariate analysis, post-BCG hTERT expression was independently associated with RFS and development of invasive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunohistochemical evaluation of hTERT may help define a subset of high risk SBC patients that will eventually fail BCG and may therefore benefit from early salvage cystectomy.

Thirty years of BCG immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A success story with room for improvement

Over the last three decades, intravesical immunotherapy with the biological response modifier Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been established as the most effective adjuvant treatment for preventing local recurrences and tumor progression following transurethral resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. A large number of clinical trials have established a major role for BCG immunotherapy in urological oncology. In parallel, the major principles of the immunological mechanism have been revealed. In spite of this success, questions still remain regarding its clinical use, mechanism of action and potential improvement. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the historical era of BCG immunotherapy, the current indications for clinical application, the complex mechanism of action and possible future developments.

Long-Term Follow-up of Patients with Stage T1 High-Grade Transitional Cell Carcinoma Managed by Bacille Calmette-Guérin Immunotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To report the long-term outcome of patients with Stage T1 high-grade transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated initially by transurethral resection and adjuvant intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin.

METHODS

From June 1984 to November 1995, 78 consecutive patients with Stage T1 high-grade bladder cancer underwent transurethral resection and adjuvant intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin therapy. The results at the interim follow-up (median 56 months) were reported in 1998. The median duration of follow-up for the present study was 107 months (range 16 to 238). The endpoints were tumor recurrence (Stage Ta, T1, or Tis), tumor progression (to T2 or greater), and disease-specific survival.

RESULTS

Of the 78 patients, 34 (44%) were alive for the present analysis and 44 (56%) had died, 12 (16%) of transitional cell carcinoma and 32 (72%) of other causes. Recurrence was documented in 27 patients (35%) at a median of 8.5 months (range 5 to 129) after treatment, and progression in 14 patients (18%) at a median of 31.4 months (range 5 to 88) after treatment. The 2, 5, and 10-year recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival rates were 76%, 72%, and 62% and 92%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. The corresponding disease-free survival rates were 99%, 90%, and 85%. Disease progression occurred in 10 (37%) of 27 patients with recurrence, of whom 9 died. Of the 14 patients with disease progression, 12 died of their disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacille Calmette-Guérin is an effective conservative treatment for patients with Stage T1 high-grade bladder cancer. More than one half the recurrences appeared within the first year, but a small risk remains throughout the patient's life. Progression during follow-up appears to carry a high risk of cancer-specific death.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for stage T1 grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: recurrence, progression and survival in a study of 57 patients

PURPOSE

Stage T1 grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is associated with a high risk of tumor recurrence and progression. We report our experience with stage T1 grade 3 bladder tumors treated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy in the last 10 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed the outcome in 57 consecutive patients treated with intravesical BCG for stage T1 grade 3 bladder cancer between 1991 and 2001. After initial transurethral resection all patients received a 6-week course of BCG therapy consisting of 1 instillation weekly. All patients underwent systematic biopsies at the end of the first BCG course. Patients with negative biopsies received maintenance BCG therapy, consisting of intravesical instillations each week for 3 weeks given 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months after the first course. Patients with residual tumor received a second course of 6 weekly instillations. Time to tumor recurrence and progression, and the rate of patient survival were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Median followup was 53 months (range 9 to 110). Minimum followup was 2 years in 36 cases (63.2%) and 5 years in 28 (49.1%). After the first BCG course 50 patients (87.7%) had no residual disease, while 7 (12.3%) had residual tumor. The recurrence and progression rates were 42.1% and 22.8%, respectively. The rate of delayed cystectomy was 14%. The rate of disease specific survival was 87.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that BCG therapy is effective conservative treatment for patients with stage T1 grade 3 bladder tumors.

Immunotherapy for bladder cancer

The primary role of immunotherapy for bladder cancer is to treat superficial transitional cell carcinomas (ie, carcinoma in situ, Ta, and T1). Immunotherapy in the form of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), interferon, bropirimine, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and gene therapy is intended to treat existing or residual tumor, to prevent recurrence of tumor, to prevent progression of disease, and to prolong survival of patients. Presently, BCG is commonly used and is the most effective immunotherapeutic agent against superficial transitional cell carcinoma. Data support that BCG has a positive impact on tumor recurrence, disease progression, and survival. Proper attention to maintenance schedules, route of administration, dosing, strains, and viability is essential to obtain the maximum benefits of BCG immunotherapy. This review highlights and summarizes the recent advances concerning immunotherapy, with special emphasis on BCG therapy for transitional cell carcinoma.

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in Ta and T1 Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

Intravesical therapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) aims to reduce the incidence of tumour recurrence following transurethral resection (TUR) for patients with superficial bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review was to compare the incidence of tumour recurrence after the standard therapy of transurethral resection versus transurethral resection plus intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (March 2000), Medline (February, 2000), EMBASE (February, 2000), Cancerlit (February, 2000), Healthstar (February, 2000), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (February, 2000) and the Bath Information Data Service. The Proceedings of the American Society Clinical Oncology was hand searched (1996 - 1999).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised or quasi-randomised trials of transurethral resection alone versus transurethral resection plus intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Patients with Ta and T1 bladder cancer of medium or high risk of tumour recurrence, were eligible for inclusion.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Four reviewers assessed trial quality and two abstracted the data independently. The Peto odds ratios and log hazard ratios were determined to compare the number of patients with disease recurrence at 12 months and the rate of recurrence, respectively.

MAIN RESULTS

Six randomised trials were included involving 585 eligible patients. There were significantly fewer patients with disease recurrence at 12 months in the BCG plus TUR group compared to those that received TUR alone (odds ratio 0.30, CI 0.21, 0.43). The overall log hazard ratio for recurrence (-0.83, variance 0.02) indicated a significant benefit of BCG treatment in reducing tumour recurrence. Toxicities associated with BCG consisted mainly of cystitis (67%), haematuria (23%), fever (25%) and urinary frequency (71%). No BCG-induced deaths were reported.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

In patients with medium/high risk Ta or T1 bladder cancer, immunotherapy with intravesical BCG following TUR appears to provide a significant advantage over TUR alone in delaying tumour recurrence.

[Our experience with 1 mg BCG vaccine instillation in T1 stage cancer of the bladder]

We studied 67 patients with bladder cancer in stage T1, with terminated BCG treatment and in pursuit. No stage Ta neither carcinoma in situ was included. The protocol was: beginning of treatment upon retiring vesical catheter, instilation of 1 mg of liofilized BCG vaccine (16 x 10(6) bacilles) in 40-50 ml of intravesical saline solution. A weekly instilation during the first month. An instilation each 15 days during the second and third month and one monthly until complete 12 months of treatment. Also was carried out an study of T lymphocites and cytokines.

RESULTS

The average followup of the 67 patients treated was 51.3 months. 17 patients relapses (25.4%). A 33% were grade 3 and 27% grade 2. Like complications there was a case of inguinal TBC adenititis, 2 TBC prostatitis, 2 TBC cistitis and 5 cases of slight disuric syndrome. The study of subpopulations of lymphocites in peripheral blood demonstrated a significant increase of CD3 and CD4/CD8 ratio. The interleukin 2 measurement in serum also increased significantly after the BCG instilations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our protocol gets similar results to the higher doses, but with minimal complications diminishing the relapses of the tumors in stage T1. A monthly maintenance dose would help to maintain immunity.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin in superficial transitional cell carcinoma

The mechanisms by which BCG exerts its antitumour activity remain unclear. Attachment of BCG to the bladder via FN has been shown to be an important step in initiating its antitumorigenic activity. The mechanism(s) by which BCG operates requires LAK cells, BCG-activated killer cells, T lymphocytes (CD4) helper cells and CD8 suppressor/cytotoxic cells) and monocytes. The optimal route of administration is intravesical. The efficacy of a BCG vaccine depends on the viability, dose and strain. Differences in efficacy and side-effects have not been shown between different strains. Low-dose regimens successfully protect from recurrences, with fewer side-effects. The initial schedule of BCG is a course of six instillations in 6 weeks; when the patient fails this course, two possibilities arise. The first is maintenance therapy; response rates improve but there is more local and systemic toxicity. The second is a further 6-week course, and this seems most useful in those with a sustained response to the initial treatment. The clinical response to BCG therapy can be monitored using cytokine measurements or p53 determinations. Toxicity remains a major problem in BCG treatment and triple antituberculosis combination therapy should be given for 3 months in those with severe systemic side-effects. The use of prophylactic isoniazid is not recommend to decrease side-effects. The clinical results of BCG have been good, with success rates of 58-100%, with a minimal follow-up of one year in prophylaxis. BCG seems superior to intravesical therapy, but at the cost of inducing more adverse effects. BCG is not indicated for low- and intermediate-risk patients, in whom chemotherapy is the first choice. BCG can also be used to eliminate tumour after an incomplete TUR, or in patients who are unfit for surgery, with a 60-70% success rate. The primary and best treatment for CIS is intravesical BCG; encouraging results have been reported, with success rate of 42-83% after a minimal follow-up of one year. Although currently BCG seems to be the choice for high-risk superficial TCC, many questions remain unanswered, especially about the mechanism(s) of action, the optimal dose and clinical schedule.

Intravesical versus intravesical plus intradermal bacillus Calmette-Guerin: a prospective randomized study in patients with recurrent superficial bladder tumors

PURPOSE

Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) induces various immunological reactions and decreases the recurrence rate of superficial bladder tumors. To determine whether additional immune stimulation with concomitant intradermal BCG applications could further lower the recurrence rate, 154 patients with superficial bladder tumors at high risk for recurrence were randomized to receive either 6 intravesical instillations of 120 mg. Pasteur strain BCG alone or combined with intradermal application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 76 patients received intravesical and intradermal BCG, while 78 received intravesical BCG only. Median followup was 41 months (range 2 to 89) and 36 months (range 2 to 86), respectively. Both treatment groups were comparable regarding patient age and number of previous transurethral bladder tumor resections, as well as tumor recurrence rate, stage and grade before BCG therapy.

RESULTS

A highly significant decrease in the monthly tumor recurrence rate was observed in both arms after BCG compared to the pretreatment recurrence rates (p < 0.0001). Recurrence rate decreased from 0.73 +/- 1.07 (standard deviation) to 0.06 +/- 0.13 in the combined treatment group and from 0.71 +/- 0.90 to 0.074 +/- 0.17 in the intravesical treatment only group. However, we were unable to find any difference between the 2 groups regarding interval to initial recurrence or recurrence rates after BCG treatment. Changes in the purified protein derivative skin test performed before and after BCG therapy were not useful to predict response to treatment because 44% of our patients already had a positive test before treatment. Also, interpretation of the skin test was difficult and not always reliable. In the multivariate analysis, however, fever was an important prognostic factor. Patients with increased body temperature greater than 37.5C had a significantly lower recurrence rate than those without fever (37.5C or less) after BCG instillation (p = 0.009). Moreover, fever after BCG instillation was observed significantly more frequently in patients with a positive purified protein derivative skin test before treatment (p = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

The therapeutic benefit from intravesical BCG apparently was not substantially improved by simultaneous intradermal BCG vaccination. Fever following intravesical BCG instillation is an important prognostic factor regarding superficial bladder tumor recurrence. Fever occurs predominantly in patients who were previously sensitized to mycobacteria (by BCG vaccination or infection) as shown by a positive pretreatment purified protein derivative skin test. This finding suggests that previously sensitized patients respond significantly better to a single course of intravesical BCG.

Enhanced antitumor effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in combination with fibrinogen on urinary bladder tumor

Although intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an established and effective therapy for superficial urinary bladder tumor (UBT), the current major problems are BCG-resistant UBT and recurrence after BCG therapy. The injection of BCG and fibrinogen could be expected to induce the formation of a fibrin mesh, which would trap BCG and and prolong its antitumor action. The present study has been designed to investigate whether fibrinogen has the ability to augment antitumor activity of BCG against UBT. A single injection of BCG/fibrinogen solution into the subcutaneous tissue of C3H/He mice was performed. Histopathological examination revealed prolonged accumulation of BCG and marked infiltration of inflammatory cells at the injected site, as compared with the injection of BCG or fibrinogen alone. When BCG was used in combination with gelatin sponge, prolonged BCG accumulation was also observed, but not many inflammatory cells were induced, as compared with injection of BCG/fibrinogen combination. When BCG/fibrinogen solution was injected into MBT-2 murine UBT transplanted into C3H/He mice, the formation of fibrin fibers, which trap BCG, was induced, and many inflammatory cells around the tumor were seen. A pronounced inhibitory effect on tumor growth and prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice were achieved, as compared with the injection of BCG alone. Dead BCG/fibrinogen solution had a modest inhibitory effect on the tumor growth. This study suggests that combination treatment with BCG and exogenous fibrinogen may prolong accumulation of BCG by BCG by trapping BCG in fibrin meshwork, and may induce marked infiltration of inflammatory cells into tumor stroma, causing marked regression of the tumor. The possible clinical implications of the combined use of BCG and fibrinogen are discussed.

Megadose vitamins in bladder cancer: a double-blind clinical trial

Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that vitamin supplements may be helpful in the prevention of some cancers but clinical trials to date have failed to demonstrate protection with naturally occurring vitamins. Without substantiation of the highly touted benefits of vitamins, few physicians who care for cancer patients have recommended their use. A total of 65 patients with biopsy confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder enrolled in a randomized comparison of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) with or without percutaneous administration was also randomized by closed envelope to therapy with multiple vitamins in the recommended daily allowance (RDA) versus RDA multivitamins plus 40,000 units vitamin A, 100 mg. vitamin B6, 2,000 mg. vitamin C, 400 units vitamin E and 90 mg. zinc. The addition of percutaneous BCG did not significantly lessen tumor recurrence but recurrence after 10 months was markedly reduced in patients receiving megadose vitamins. The 5-year estimates of tumor recurrence are 91% in the RDA arm and 41% in the megadose arm (p = 0.0014, Mantel-Cox). Overall recurrence was 24 of 30 patients (80%) in the RDA arm and 14 of 35 (40%) in the high dose arm (p = 0.0011, 2-tailed Fisher's exact test). Megadose vitamins A, B6, C and E plus zinc decrease bladder tumor recurrence in patients receiving BCG immunotherapy. Further research will be required to identify which ingredient(s) provide this protection.

BCG in the treatment of superficial cancer of the bladder: a review

Superficial Bladder Cancer can be treated in several ways. During the last decades, intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) has emerged as an effective therapy. The history of how BCG became an antitumoral treatment is long and intriguing, and the theoretical background is fragile. In numerous studies, involving over 3,000 patients, intravesical instillation of BCG has been shown to be an effective treatment for superficial cancer of the urinary bladder in humans. Temporarily, BCG can eradicate residual disease after surgery, it can prevent local recurrence, and it can halt deterioration of malignancy in recurrences. However, its effect on survival is uncertain. For patients, treatment with BCG is prolonged, expensive, associated with side-effects, and may even be harmful. The mode of action is obscure. The theoretical framework on which this therapy is based is purely speculative, if existing at all. Although BCG has been classified as a biological response modifier, and the treatment is termed immunotherapy, proof is still lacking that the mechanism is immunological.

Clinical evidence of systemic persistence of bacillus Calmette-Guerin: long-term pulmonary bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection after intravesical therapy for bladder cancer and subsequent cystectomy

A patient with urothelial bladder carcinoma is reported who suffered from culture proved pulmonary bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection 14 months after a single course of intravesical BCG and 11 months after subsequent radical cystectomy for progressive cancer. This unusual case raises the question of the ultimate fate of intravesically instilled BCG and the possible persistence of these mycobacteria in remote organs. Systemic spread and dormant survival at least in some cases are suggested, and therapeutic and diagnostic consequences are discussed.

Mycobacterium bovis vertebral osteomyelitis and psoas abscess after intravesical BCG therapy for bladder carcinoma

Systemic complications of intravesicular BCG for bladder carcinoma are uncommon, and include fever, pneumonia, hepatitis, arthralgias, or skin rash. Local complications of BCG therapy for bladder cancer include cystitis, prostatitis, epididymo-orchitis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, or ureteral obstruction. We believe this is the first case of Mycobacterium bovis vertebral osteomyelitis and psoas abscess complicating intravesicular BCG therapy for bladder carcinoma.

Intravesical BCG treatment for superficial bladder cancer: long-term results using two different strains of BCG

A total of 21 patients received intravesical BCG for the prevention of recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Twelve patients received the Glaxo strain and 9 the Pasteur strain of the bacillus. Although thought to have different anti-tumour activities owing to a difference in antigenicity, these 2 strains produced similar tumour-free rates at 5 years' mean follow-up with an overall tumour-free rate of 43%.