Bacillus Calmette-Guérin plus intravesical interferon alpha-2b in patients with superficial bladder cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha 2b) have been used individually for the treatment of bladder cancer. We used a low dose of BCG combined with IFN alpha 2b to determine the safety and to assess the efficacy of this combination therapy.


METHODS
A study of 12 patients with superficial bladder cancer evaluated the safety and efficacy of a combination of low-dose BCG and IFN alpha 2b, given weekly for 6 weeks. Three patients were assigned to each of four groups in which 60 mg of BCG was combined with 10, 30, 60, or 100 x 10(6) IU of IFN alpha 2b.


RESULTS
The combination BCG/IFN alpha 2b therapy was well tolerated, with adverse effects being mild to moderate and resolved at the end of treatment. At 12 months post-treatment there has been no tumor progression. Two patients with previous multifocal transitional cell carcinoma have had solitary recurrences. One patient has had recurrent carcinoma in situ.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study found combination BCG/IFN alpha 2b induction therapy to be safe and well tolerated. These early results show a high response rate, but efficacy can only be determined with Phase II and III studies.
Stricker
P
P
Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Pryor
K
K
Nicholson
T
T
Goldstein
D
D
Golovsky
D
D
Ferguson
R
R
Nash
P
P
Ehsman
S
S
Rumma
J
J
Mammen
G
G
Penny
R
R
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins