Combined bacillus Calmette-Guerin and interferon use in superficial bladder cancer.
Due to its high rate of local recurrence after transurethral surgery, superficial bladder cancer is often treated with adjuvant topical intravesical chemotherapy or biological agents, such as bacillus Calmette-Guerin or interferon-alpha. Recent laboratory testing has revealed that combination interferon-alpha with bacillus Calmette-Guerin results in remarkable synergy, affecting not only bladder tumors directly but also enhancing the immune response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin by orders of magnitude. Clinical studies are now demonstrating lower toxicity with combination low-dose bacillus Calmette-Guerin/interferon regimens, while providing a much needed salvage option for previous bacillus Calmette-Guerin failures.
O'Donnell
Michael A
MA
University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Department of Urology, Iowa City 52242-1089, USA. michael-odonnell@uiowa.edu
D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007372:Interferons