Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the kidney

Abstract

Of 18 patients with renal adenocarcinoma 10 with metastatic disease received Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy. Objective responses were recorded in 4 patients. When the intradermal route and relatively small amounts of vaccine were used the complications were minimal and self-limiting. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy appears to be more effective than other modalities in the treatment of renal adenocarcinoma. However, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn since there is no control group. A prospective clinical trial is now in progress at this institution.