Predicting response to BCG

Abstract

Methylation status of a select panel of genes can predict failure of bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy, according to research carried out by Marta Sanchez-Carbayo and colleagues at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid. Intravesical BCG is the treatment of choice for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are considered to be at high risk of recurrence and progression to muscle-invasive disease. However, about a third of recipients do not respond to BCG, and the ability to identify which patients might require more-aggressive management is a major goal of bladder cancer research today.