title: Evolving immunotherapy strategies in urothelial cancer.
abstract: The treatment of nonmuscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) represents the importance of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Despite its clinical efficacy, up to 30% of patients will ultimately experience progression to muscle-invasive disease. This, along with an improved understanding of the biologic pathways involved, has led to efforts to improve, enhance, or alter the immune response in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma. A number of novel therapeutic approaches currently are being pursued, including recombinant BCG to induce T helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses, nonlive Mycobacterium agents, targeted agents toward cancer-associated antigens, immune-modulating vaccines, and adoptive T-cell therapies. Here, we review the current and future immunotherapy treatment options for patients with urothelial cancer.
authors.affiliation: From the Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brancato
authors.affiliation: From the Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Keidren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewi
authors.affiliation: From the Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Piyush K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D016207:Cytokines