[Immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer]

Abstract

Because patients with superficial bladder cancer are in a high-risk group where tumor progression is concerned, topical therapeutic strategies are necessary to prevent tumor recurrence and tumor progression. Based on experimental studies and several case reports, during the last two decades immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer has been developed. The effects of topical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been carefully investigated in numerous clinical trials. Especially patients with carcinoma in situ appear to benefit from BCG therapy. Other types of local immunotherapy, e.g., instillation of interferons, interleukins, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin have been found to have fewer side effects than BDG. These new approaches are currently under clinical investigation.