Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Induction Research Articles

Efficacy and tolerability of bacillus Calmette-Guérin strain Russia for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Analysis of a prospective registry.

Little is known about the efficacy and tolerability of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strain Russia for treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in a middle- European population. A prospective collection of outcomes of 101 BCG-naive patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma was carried out between January 2013 and October 2023 at the University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Patients underwent BCG (ONCO-BCGSIIL, Serum Institute of India, Pune, India) induction and a maximum of three maintenance cycles within one year. Adverse events were classified according to the World Health Organization rating scale. One-, three-, and five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 75.9%, 65.6%, and 61.6%, respectively. Tumor recurrence was seen in 31.7% of patients. One-, three-, and five-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 100%, 93.4%, and 93.4%, respectively. Cystectomy rate was 8.9%, with progression to muscle-invasive disease seen in two patients. Adverse events occurred in 72.3% of patients, with adverse events >class II seen in 8.9%. No BCG-related deaths occurred. Early cessation due to side effects resulting in non-adequate BCG therapy was seen in 3% of patients during induction and in 1% during maintenance therapy. BCG Russia was well-tolerated and resulted in comparable RFS and PFS to historical results of prospective clinical trials with other BCG strains. The use of BCG Russia for adjuvant treatment of papillary NMIBC and therapy of carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder could help alleviate the BCG shortage.

Phase 3 KEYNOTE-676 cohort A: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) with or without pembrolizumab for high-risk (HR) non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that persists/recurs after BCG induction.

TPS722 Background: Intravesical instillation of BCG is a standard-of-care treatment for patients with HR NMIBC, but up to 50% of patients later experience disease recurrence or progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) despite BCG treatment. In the phase 2 KEYNOTE-057 study (NCT02625961), pembrolizumab monotherapy was shown to have antitumor activity in patients with HR BCG–unresponsive NMIBC who had carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors and in patients with only papillary tumors. In cohort A of the randomized, phase 3 KEYNOTE-676 trial (NCT03711032), pembrolizumab plus BCG versus BCG alone is being evaluated in patients with persistent/recurrent HR NMIBC after first BCG induction. Methods: Key eligibility criteria include adults with histologically confirmed HR NMIBC (T1, high-grade Ta, and/or CIS) that is persistent/recurrent following 1 adequate course of BCG induction therapy, have no concurrent extravesical disease or history of extravesical disease that recurred within 2 years, have an ECOG PS score of 0 to 2, and have undergone cystoscopy/TURBT ≤12 weeks before randomization. Approximately 430 patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks plus BCG or BCG alone. BCG (50 mg) will be administered by intravesical instillation as induction therapy once weekly for 6 weeks and then as maintenance therapy once weekly for 3 weeks at weeks 13 and 25, then every 24 weeks (Q24W) thereafter. Treatment will continue for approximately 2 years (pembrolizumab) or 3 years (BCG), or until confirmed persistent/recurrent HR NMIBC or disease progression to MIBC or metastatic bladder cancer, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Randomization to treatment will be stratified by PD-L1 combined positive score (≥10 or ˂10), histology (CIS or non-CIS), and NMIBC disease history (persistence/recurrence 0 to ≤6 months or recurrence ˃6 to ≤12 months or recurrence ˃12 to ≤24 months). Response will be assessed by local cystoscopy and blinded independent central review of urine cytology and biopsy (as applicable) every 12 weeks for years 1 to 2 and Q24W for years 3 to 5. Computed tomography urography will occur every 72 weeks through year 5, then every 104 weeks thereafter. The primary end point is complete response rate in patients with CIS. Secondary end points are duration of response in patients with CIS, event-free survival, recurrence-free survival, time to cystectomy, overall survival, disease-specific survival, safety and tolerability, and patient-reported outcomes. Enrollment incohort A of KEYNOTE-676 is ongoing in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Clinical trial information: NCT03711032 .

Comparative analysis of recurrence rates between intravesical gemcitabine and bacillus Calmette-Guérin induction therapy following transurethral resection of bladder tumors in patients with intermediate- and high-risk bladder cancer: A retrospective multicenter study.

This study investigated the efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine as an alternative to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. Data were retrospectively collected across seven institutions from February 1999 to May 2023. Inclusion criteria included patients with intermediate- or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) and received at least four sessions of intravesical gemcitabine or BCG induction therapy. Patient characteristics, complete remission (CR), occurrence, and progression rates were compared. In total, 149 patients were included in this study (gemcitabine, 63; BCG, 86). No differences were apparent between the two groups in baseline characteristics, except for the follow-up period (gemcitabine, 9.2±5.9 months vs. BCG, 43.9±41.4 months, p<0.001). There were no consistent significant differences observed between the two groups in the 3-month (gemcitabine, 98.4% vs. BCG, 95.3%; p=0.848), 6-month (94.9% vs. 90.0%, respectively; p=0.793) and 1-year CR rates (84.2% vs. 83.3%, respectively; p=0.950). Also, there was no significant statistical difference in progression-free survival between the two groups (p=0.953). The occurrence rates of adverse events were similar between the groups (22.2% vs. 22.1%; p=0.989); however, the rate of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher was significantly higher in the BCG group (1.6% vs. 16.3%, respectively; p<0.001). Intravesical gemcitabine demonstrated efficacy comparable to BCG therapy for the first year in patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. However, long-term follow-up studies are warranted.

HER2 positivity predicts BCG unresponsiveness and adaptive immune cell exhaustion in EORTC risk-stratified cohort of bladder cancer.

Predicting the response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in high-risk patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is crucial, as failure may necessitate interventions, such as radical cystectomy or salvage therapy. With the recent classification of genetic class 2a (which has HER2 protein abundance as its signature mutation of ERBB2), evaluating its prognostic role and relationship with BCG response could yield important results. This retrospective study included 160 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors at Gangneung Asan Hospital between 2000 and 2013 and were stratified based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk criteria. In addition, we analyzed a subset of 67 patients who had received BCG induction therapy to identify factors predictive of BCG treatment response. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of clinicopathological factors, HER2 positivity, and EORTC risk on recurrence, progression, survival, and BCG response. Each variable's prognostic significance was determined using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were evaluated in relation to HER2 and EORTC risk. Patients with HER2+ had a higher median age, a greater prevalence of high-grade tumors, and more frequent recurrences. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the HER2+, intermediate (vs. low-risk) high (vs. low-risk), and EORTC recurrence risk groups were significantly associated with recurrence. In patients treated with BCG, only the HER2+ status predicted recurrence. In the univariate analysis for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk (vs. low-to-intermediate), HER2+, and programmed death-ligand 1 positive (PD-L1+) were significant factors. In multivariate analyses for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk, and PD-L1+ were significant factors for progression. HER2 expression was associated with the TME, influencing the proportion of PD-L1+ cells, as well as other markers of PD-1, CD8, and Ki67. The HER2+ status may be related to genetic characteristics that appear more frequently in older age, which suggests a potential for predicting the recurrence and response to BCG treatment. Additionally, analyzing TME trends of aggressive adaptive immune response characterized by HER2 expression provides insight into recurrence and BCG response mechanisms.

The bladder microbiota is not significantly altered by intravesical BCG therapy

IntroductionBladder microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with several urological disorders. However, dysbiosis markers in bladder cancer have not been identified and little is known about the effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical therapy on the bladder microbiota. In this study, we compared the bladder microbiota of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing BCG therapy to nononcological controls. We also longitudinally analyzed the impact of BCG therapy on the bladder microbiota of NMIBC patients and addressed whether bladder microbiota is associated with BCG efficacy. MethodsWe collected catheterized urine samples from males with intermediate/high-risk NMIBC (cancer group, n = 32) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (control group, n = 41). The cancer group also provided urine samples during and after BCG induction. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the bladder microbiota. Bladder microbiota parameters, such as diversity and taxonomic composition, were compared between groups and associated with clinicopathological data and BCG efficacy. ResultsWe observed no significant differences between the bladder microbiota of NMIBC patients and controls. BCG intravesical instillations did not significantly alter the bladder microbiota of NMIBC patients, and BCG was rarely detected in the bladder during and after BCG therapy. Microbiota diversity and overall composition before BCG induction did not influence disease persistence at 3 months. However, higher abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Cutibacterium in the pre-BCG bladder microbiota was associated with BCG effectiveness. ConclusionWe were unable to identify markers of bladder microbiota dysbiosis among male NMIBC patients. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time using longitudinally collected samples that BCG cannot persist in the bladder microbiota nor significantly alter its diversity and composition. The associations found between bladder microbes and BCG efficacy highlight the potential of microbial-based therapeutic and risk-stratification strategies in the intermediate/high-risk NMIBC setting.

Repeat Transurethral Resection (TUR) + Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Versus Upfront Induction BCG After TUR in High-risk Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Feasibility Phase of a Randomized Controlled Study

BackgroundHigh-level evidence supporting the role of repeat transurethral resection (reTUR) in non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is lacking. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing whether immediate reTUR has an impact on patient prognosis is essential. However, since such a RCT will require enrollment of a high number of patients, a preliminary feasibility study is appropriate. ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of an RCT investigating the impact of immediate reTUR + adjuvant bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) versus upfront induction BCG after initial TUR in NMIBC. Design, setting, and participantsEligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either reTUR + adjuvant BCG or upfront induction BCG after TUR. Patients with macroscopically completely resected high-grade T1 NMIBC, with or without concomitant carcinoma in situ, and with detrusor muscle (DM) present in the initial TUR specimen were considered eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included lymphovascular invasion (LVI), histological subtypes, hydronephrosis, concomitant upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), or urothelial carcinoma within the prostatic urethra. The aim was to enroll 30 patients in this feasibility study. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe patient recruitment rate was the primary outcome. Oncological outcomes (recurrence-free and progression-free survival) were secondary endpoints. Results and limitationsOverall, 30 patients (15 per arm) were randomized over a period of 14 mo (August 2020–October 2021). Two eligible patients refused the randomization, resulting in a patient compliance rate of 93.3% for the study protocol. We excluded 49 ineligible patients before randomization because of histological subtypes (n = 16, 33%), LVI (n = 9, 18%), DM absence in the TUR specimen (n = 12, 24%), metastatic disease (n = 5, 10%), concomitant UTUC (n = 3, 6%), or hydronephrosis (n = 4, 8%). At reTUR, persistent disease was found in four patients (29%) and upstaging to muscle-invasive disease in one (7%). Over median follow-up of 17 mo, disease recurrence was detected in three patients (23%) in the reTUR arm and six patients (40%) in the upfront BCG arm. Progression to muscle-invasive disease was observed in one patient treated with upfront BCG. ConclusionsThe feasibility of conducting an RCT comparing upfront BCG versus reTUR + BCG in high-grade T1 NMIBC has been demonstrated. Our results underline the need to screen a large number of patients owing to characteristics meeting the exclusion criteria in a high percentage of cases. Patient summaryWe found that a clinical trial of the role of a repeat surgical procedure to remove bladder tumors through the urethra would be feasible among patients with high-grade non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer. These preliminary results may help in refining the role of this repeat procedure for patients in this category.

Salvage therapy for BCG failure with intravesical sequential gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with recurrent NMIBC.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) failure occurs in approximately 40% of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) within two years. We describe our institutional experience with sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (gem/doce) as salvage therapy post-BCG failure in patients who were not candidates for or declined radical cystectomy (RC). We retrospectively reviewed NMIBC patients with BCG failure who received gem/doce from April 2019 through October 2022 at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval. Patients received at least five weekly intravesical instillations according to published protocols. Patients who responded to gem/doce had maintenance instillations monthly for up to two years. Primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary outcomes included recurrence-free survival (RFS), cystectomy-free survival (CFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and treatment adverse events. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method from the first gem/doce instillation. Thirty-five patients with a median age of 78 years old were included in the study. The median followup time was 21 months (interquartile range 10-29). More than 25% of patients received two or more prior BCG induction treatments. Overall and MIBC PFS estimates at one year were 85% and 88%, and at two years, 60% and 70%, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 37% of the patients, but only two patients didn't complete the treatment due to intolerance. Three patients underwent RC due to cancer progression. OS was 94% at two years. With 60% of PFS at two years, gem/doce appears to be a safe and well-tolerated option for BCG failure patients. Further studies are needed to justify widespread use.

Prognostic Role of Preoperative Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Recurrence at First Evaluation after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Induction in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

We investigated the prognosis of BCG induction-only treatment and non-complete response (CR) at the first 3-month evaluation and examined factors associated with CR. In total, 209 patients with moderate- and high-risk NMIBC who received BCG induction-only treatment between 2008 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed based on the initial NMIBC stage. PFS and associated factors of non-CR compared to CR were also assessed. Initial T1 high-grade (HG) (n = 93) had poorer RFS and PFS after BCG induction-only treatment than Ta low-grade (LG) (p = 0.029, p = 0.002). Non-CR (n = 37) had a different neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (2.81 ± 1.02 vs. 1.97 ± 0.92) and T staging from CR (p < 0.001, p = 0.008). T1HG recurrence was associated with a worse PFS compared to non-T1HG (13.7 months vs. 101.7 months, p < 0.001). There was no difference in PFS between T1HG and T1LG. T1 and NLR were predictors of response at 3 months in multivariable analysis (p = 0.004, p = 0.029). NLR was also found to be an associated factor with RFS and PFS of bladder cancer (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). BCG induction-only treatment was effective for high-risk TaLG but not for T1HG. T1HG recurrence at 3 months after BCG induction has a poor prognosis for bladder cancer. Preoperative NLR and T1 were predictors of non-CR, and NLR was also associated with the long-term prognosis of bladder cancer.

Quality of Life in Patients with High-grade Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Standard Versus Reduced Frequency of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillations: The EAU-RF NIMBUS Trial.

Adverse events induced by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to treat high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) often lead to treatment discontinuation. The EAU-RF NIMBUS trial found a reduced number of standard-dose BCG instillations to be inferior with the standard regimen. Nonetheless, it remains important to evaluate whether patients in the reduced BCG treatment arm had better quality of life (QoL) due to a possible reduction in toxicity or burden. To evaluate whether patients in the EAU-RF NIMBUS trial experienced better QoL after a reduced BCG instillation frequency. A total of 359 patients from 51 European sites were randomized to one of two treatment arms between December 2013 and July 2019. The standard frequency arm (n=182) was 6 weeks of BCG induction followed by 3 weeks of maintenance at months 3, 6, and 12. The reduced frequency arm (n=177) was BCG induction at weeks 1, 2, and 6, followed by maintenance instillations at weeks 1 and 3 of months 3, 6, and 12. Analyses were performed using an intention-to-treat analysis and a per-protocol analysis. QoL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 version 3.0 (QLQ-C30 v.03) prior to the first and last instillations of each BCG cycle. Group differences were determined using linear regression corrected for QoL at baseline. Differences in QoL over time were tested for significance using a linear mixed model. Side effects were recorded by the treating physician using a standardized form. Chi-square tests were used to compare the side-effect frequency between the arms. There were no significant differences in the means of each QoL scale between the two arms. There were also no significant changes over time in all QoL domains for both arms. However, differences in the incidence of general malaise at T1 (before the last induction instillation), frequency, urgency, and dysuria at T7 (before the last maintenance instillation) were detected in favor of the reduced frequency arm. Reducing the BCG instillation frequency does not improve the QoL in NMIBC patients despite lower storage symptoms. In this study, we evaluated whether a reduction in the number of received bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillations led to better quality of life in patients with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We found no difference in the quality of life between the standard and the reduced bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation frequency. We conclude that reducing the number of instillations does not lead to better quality of life in patients with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Impact of age >70 years on oncological outcomes in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

To evaluate the impact of age on oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with adequate Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). We performed an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study analysing patients with NMIBC treated with adequate BCG at our institution from 2000 to 2020. Adequate BCG was defined as per United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines as being receipt of at least five of six induction BCG instillations with a minimum of two additional doses (of planned maintenance or of re-induction) of BCG instillations within a span of 6 months. The study's primary outcome was to determine if age >70 years was associated with progression to MIBC cancer or distant metastasis. The cumulative incidence method and the competing-risk regression analyses were used to investigate the association of advanced age (>70 years) with progression, high-grade (HG) recurrence and cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Overall, data from 632 patients were analysed: 355 patients (56.2%) were aged ≤70 years and 277 (43.8%) were >70 years. Age >70 years did not adversely affect either cumulative incidence of progression or HG recurrence (P = 0.067 and P = 0.644, respectively). On competing-risk regression analyses, age >70 years did not emerge as an independent predictor of progression or HG recurrence (sub-standardised hazard ratio [SHR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-2.81, P = 0.134; and SHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77-1.44, P = 0.749). Not unexpectedly, patients in the older group did have higher overall mortality (P < 0.001) but not CSM (P = 0.057). Age >70 years was not associated with adverse oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients receiving adequate intravesical BCG for NMIBC. BCG should not be withheld from older patients seeking for bladder sparing options.

Diminished Short-Term Efficacy of Reduced-Dose Induction BCG in the Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

The ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage has created challenges for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBCa). Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of reduced-dose induction BCG (RD-iBCG) compared to full-dose induction BCG (FD-iBCG) regarding recurrence rates. We hypothesized that patients receiving RD-iBCG may recur at a higher rate compared to those who received FD-iBCG therapy. A retrospective review of all patients with NMIBCa treated with intravesical therapy at our institution between 2015-2020 was conducted. Inclusion criteria consisted of having a diagnosis of AUA intermediate or high-risk NMIBCa with an indication for a six-week induction course of FD or RD-BCG with at least 1 year of documented follow up. The data were censored at one year. Propensity score matching for age, sex, tumor pathology, and initial vs. recurrent disease was performed. The primary endpoint was bladder cancer recurrence, reported as recurrence-free survival. A total of 254 patients were reviewed for this study. Our final cohort was 139 patients after exclusion. Thirty-nine percent of patients had HGT1 disease. 38.6% of patients receiving RD-BCG developed a recurrence of bladder cancer within a one-year follow-up as compared to 33.7% of patients receiving FD therapy. After propensity matching, this value remained statistically significant (p = 0.03). In conclusion, RD-iBCG for NMIBCa is associated with a significantly greater risk of recurrence than full-dose induction therapy, suggesting that RD-iBCG may not be equivalent or non-inferior to full-dose administration in the short term.

Evaluation of sarcopenia in patients receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

BackgroundSarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but less is known about its impact in the setting of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Sarcopenia, skeletal muscle density, and adipose tissue area have been studied as markers of malnutrition and can be determined radiographically. The purpose of this study is to characterize the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with NMIBC receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). MethodsFollowing institutional review board approval, patients with NMIBC having received intravesical BCG were identified using institutional pharmacy records. Patients having undergone computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis within 90 days of treatment were included in the analysis. Using sliceOmatic 5.0 software, skeletal muscle area (cm2) was measured at the L3 level to calculate skeletal muscle index (SMI), a marker of sarcopenia. Subcutaneous, visceral, and intramuscular adipose tissue areas in addition to skeletal muscle density were also measured. Frailty was evaluated as a secondary aim using the 5-Item Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5). Using predefined cutoffs, the prevalence of sarcopenia was determined. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize frailty and secondary body composition characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on recurrence rate and progression. ResultsA total of 308 patients having received BCG between 2015 and 2020 were identified, of which 90 met criteria for analysis. Nearly all (94%) patients completed at least 5 out of 6 BCG induction instillations. Median body mass index (kg/m2) was 27.64 (IQR 24.9, 30.5) for females and 27.7 (IQR 24.9, 30.66) for males. Median SMI (cm2/m2) was 49.44 (IQR 39.39, 55.17) for females and 49.58 (IQR 40.25, 55.58) for males. A majority (61%) of patients were found to be sarcopenic. High-risk frailty was identified 36% of patients. There was no association between sarcopenia and recurrence rate or progression. ConclusionsSarcopenia and frailty are highly prevalent amongst patients with NMIBC. A diagnosis of NMIBC represents a window of opportunity to identify and intervene on modifiable risk factors such as sarcopenia and frailty, which are associated with adverse outcomes in more advanced disease states.

Association of Histone H3 Trimethylation in Circulating Monocytes with Lack of Early Recurrence in Patients with Bladder Cancer following BCG Induction Therapy

BACKGROUND: The mode of action of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in the treatment of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is incompletely understood, but recent studies support an association between BCG-induced trained immunity in circulating monocytes and disease-free survival. OBJECTIVE: We compared epigenetic profiles in monocytes from NMIBC patients with early disease recurrence with those from recurrence-free patients. METHODS: We conducted chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) on monocytes from seven patients treated with BCG (four with early recurrences and three recurrence-free after one year) to determine genome-wide distribution and abundance of histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) prior to and after five weeks of induction therapy. RESULTS: Genome-wide H3K4me3 profiles before or after BCG induction distinguished patients with early recurrences from those remaining recurrence-free. Furthermore, H3K4me3 levels at genes involved in specific pathways were increased in the recurrence-free group. Independent quantification showed increased H3K4me3 levels in elements of the Wnt and AMPK signaling pathways in the recurrence-free group before BCG initiation, while elements of the MAPK showed increased levels after five weeks of induction in the same group. Validation of these genes on an independent cohort of four additional patients that remained recurrence-free after one year and three with early recurrences revealed consistent increases in H3K4me3 levels associated with MAPK pathway genes after five weeks of BCG treatment in the recurrence-free group. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence-free survival following BCG immunotherapy for NMIBC is associated with the accumulation of H3K4me3 at specific gene loci, and could lead to identification of prognostic biomarkers.

Phase I/II randomized clinical trial of in-clinic acupuncture prior to BCG in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

4590 Background: Acupuncture can reduce pain and urinary urgency and frequency. Treatment-related dose-limiting dysuria and irritative bladder symptoms are common in patients receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of non muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We evaluated the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of weekly in-clinic pre-procedure acupuncture among patients receiving induction BCG. Methods: Patients with high-risk NMIBC undergoing induction BCG were randomized 2:1 to a standardized acupuncture protocol (Acu) or an attention waitlist control. Acu patients received acupuncture prior to each of 6 weekly BCG instillations. Feasibility was assessed via recruitment, retention, and intervention adherence. Acupuncture safety and tolerability were assessed via physician-reported CTCAE v5.0 and adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints included BCG treatment adherence, patient-reported BCG-related toxicity, and bladder cancer-specific and generic quality of life (QOL), assessed with the EORTC-QLQ-NMIBC-24 and -C30 surveys. Subjective assessments of acupuncture acceptability were assessed through patient exit surveys. Results: Between 1/21 and 7/22, 43 patients were randomized to Acu (n=28) vs. Control (n=15). Median age was 70.3 years and 76% were male. Week 7 follow-up surveys were completed by 93% of patients; 6 patients withdrew early due to disease progression, refractory gross hematuria, or for patient preference. Acupuncture was successfully delivered prior to each BCG treatment in Acu patients with no acupuncture-related AEs or interruptions to induction BCG. BCG-attributed AEs were reported by 91% Acu and 100% Control patients, including pain (28% vs. 43%, respectively, p=0.34) and urinary symptoms (62% vs. 79%, respectively, p=0.31). Comparing Acu with Controls, change in QOL over the study period demonstrated greater improvements in median urinary symptoms (9.5, IQR 0.0-19.0 vs. 0.0, IQR -14.3-7.1, p=0.02) and a trend towards improvement in median pain scores (16.7, IQR 0.0-16.7 vs. 8.3, IQR 0.0-33.3 p=0.68) among patients in the Acu arm. 96% of Acu patients reported that acupuncture was “very/extremely helpful” and 91% would recommend acupuncture to other patients. Conclusions: Acupuncture prior to induction BCG treatments is feasible and safe. In this Phase I/II trial, we observed reductions in pain and a trend towards improved urinary function scores over successive treatments among patients undergoing in-clinic pre-BCG instillation acupuncture. Patients receiving acupuncture reported high degrees of satisfaction with treatments. Future larger randomized controlled trials are needed to further characterize the efficacy of acupuncture with respect to pain, urinary symptoms and impact on QOL, and continuation of maintenance therapy during BCG treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT04496219 .

Adding mitomycin (MM) to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as adjuvant intravesical therapy for high-risk, non–muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (NMIBC): BCGMM; ANZUP 1301.

TPS4617 Background: Adjuvant intravesical BCG decreases disease recurrence and progression in high-risk, NMIBC, however recurrence occurs in 30% of those affected, despite optimal therapy. Meta-analyses evaluating addition of intravesical MM to BCG showed lower rates of recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in people with NMIBC who received combination regimens. Phase 3 randomized trials to definitively test this combination are lacking. The BCGMM trial (NCT02948543) will determine the effects of adding MM to the standard BCG after resection of high-risk NMBIC. This is the largest study evaluating this approach in high-risk NMIBC, is of particular relevance given the current BCG shortage, and has the potential to change global practice. Methods: This open-label phase 3 trial is randomizing 500 participants stratified by stage, site of disease, and presence of carcinoma in-situ, in a 1:1 ratio to Arm A (BCG induction weekly x6 then monthly x10) or Arm B (BCG weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8; months 4, 5, 7, 8 + MM weeks 3, 6, 9; months 3, 6, 9, see figure below). This provides 85% power to detect an absolute improvement of 10% in 2-year disease free survival (DFS) at 2p = 0.05. Stage 1 (n = 130) was to determine rates of treatment completion, activity reflected by cystoscopic findings at 3 months, adverse events, resource use, and health related quality of life, established feasibility. Stage 2, including an additional 370 participants, will provide information on DFS, time to recurrence and progression, overall survival, and identification of potential predictive biomarkers, is estimated to complete accrual by Q2 2023. Progress As of Jan 2023, 484 of 500 planned participants have been recruited from 16 Australian and 1 UK site. In stage 1, successful treatment completion, defined as 75% or more of planned treatment doses, was achieved by 76% in the experimental group (BCGMM) versus 60% in the control group (BCG alone). Clinical trial information: NCT02948543 .

Atezolizumab + intravesical BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guerin) upfront combination in high risk non–muscle- invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients: Safety interim report of BladderGATE phase I-II study.

e16590 Background: Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) induction + BCG maintenance after transurethral resection (TURBT) is the current standard of care for patients (pt) with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Recurrence rate at 2 years is around 30%, which is clearly unsatisfactory. Atezolizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting PD-L1 and is associated with long-term durable remissions in pts with metastatic urothelial cancer (Powles T. Lancet. 2018). Pembrolizumab (KN-057-FDA approved) and Atezolizumab (SWOG S-1605 Ph2 study) were recently evaluated for pts with unresponsive NMIBC ineligible for radical cystectomy with excellent results. Atezolizumab in combination with standard BCG could provide synergistic benefit for pts with NMIBC. BladderGATE (NCT04134000) is a phase Ib-II study which evaluates the safety and efficacy of Atezolizumab + intravesical BCG in pts with high-risk NMIBC. Methods: Pt had confirmed histopathology of high-risk NMIBC, BCG naïve or stopped &gt; 2 years ago, WHO PS 0-2 and adequate hematologic and end-organ function. De-escalation design to identify DLT and MTD to evaluate safety and efficacy in an expansion cohort. Pt will receive induction BCG, 1 instillation every week (qw) (dose level 0) or BCG, 1/2 instillation qw (dose level -1) + intravenously atezolizumab 1200 mg every 3 w (q3w), during 6 w. After induction, BCG was administered at weeks 13-15, 25-27 and 49-51 and atezolizumab up to 1 year. Pt were accrued to each dose level in cohorts of 10 pt until the MTD is achieved (dose at which &lt; 4 out of 10 pt experience DLT). DLT was evaluated during induction treatment. Additional pt will be included in the expansion cohort. Results: 34 pt are included in this interim analysis, median age 70 years, 82% men, 82% ECOG 0 and 79% had previous transurethral resection. Median treatment exposure was 28 weeks. No DLTs were reported in the first 10 patients included in dose level 0. Most frequent adverse events (AEs) all grades were: asthenia (24%), pruritus (21%), pyrexia (18%), hypothyroidism (15%), urinary tract infection (15%), hyperthyroidism (9%), hypertransaminitis (9%), back pain (9%), myalgia (9%) and dysuria (9%). Most frequent AES G 3-4 were mainly IRAEs: myocarditis (3%), asthenia (9%), immune-mediated hepatitis (3%), hyponatremia (3%), encephalopathy (3%) and Guillain-Barre syndrome (3%). Two patients discontinued study treatment due to immuno-mediated hepatitis Grade 3 and immuno-mediated pneumonitis Grade 3 respectively. Conclusions: Induction treatment with BCG + atezolizumab followed by maintenance treatment seems to be feasible and have a manageable toxicity profile. The toxicity of BCG and atezolizumab appears not to be enhanced in this combination. Clinical trial information: NCT04134000 .

Intravenous BCG Induction of Innate Memory in Young Pigs

Abstract Exposure to vaccine strain of Mycobacterium bovis(M. bovis), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), alters innate immune cells through epigenetic and metabolic modifications resulting in heightened responses to subsequent microbial insult (innate memory). As a biomedical model for human disease, pigs provide a critical space to study the role of innate memory in disease resistance. Young pigs were inoculated intravenous (IV) or intraperitoneal (IP) with either live or heat-inactivated BCG (IV-live, IP-live, IV-inactive, noBCG groups). At 2wks post BCG inoculation, monocyte production of IL-1β nor TNF cytokines following ex vivostimulation with LPS was not different in any BCG group compared to noBCG, i.e. no innate memory. As dose of live BCG was lower than anticipated, at 3wks post primary inoculation, all pigs were inoculated a second time with respective preparations and routes of BCG. Ex vivocytokine production in LPS stimulated monocytes was measured again at 5wks post primary inoculation (2wks post-secondary inoculation) and both IL-1β and TNF cytokines were elevated in IV-live (innate memory), but not IP-live or IV-inactive groups. Additionally, ex vivostimulation of PBMC with homologous recall antigen (purified proteins from M. bovis) resulted in a 3-fold higher IFNγ response in IP-live compared to IV-live and no IFNγ production in noBCG or IV-inactive. Together these data suggest that while BCG can induce a state of innate memory in monocytes of young pigs, induction of training cannot be inferred by T cell production of IFNγ to recall protein antigen. Additionally, data continue to highlight pigs as a valuable model as multiple BCG factors (i.e. route, dose, or viability) may need to be considered for induction of innate memory. USDA-ARS CRIS project 5030-32000-225-000D

Impact of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and chemotherapy on the bladder microbiome in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Intravesical therapy (IVT), including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is the standard of care for high grade (HG) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Despite the use of IVT, many patients recur after treatment. The bladder microbiome and its role in disease processes has recently risen to prominence. We aim to characterize changes that occur in the bladder microbiome over the course of intravesical therapy and assess whether these changes correlate with outcomes in patients with NMIBC. Patients with NMIBC undergoing induction BCG or intravesical therapy were prospectively enrolled from January 2019 to March 2020. Patients with clinical T2 or greater pathology or active urinary tract infection at enrollment were excluded. Twenty-nine patients had catheterized (bladder) urine samples collected prior to induction intravesical therapy and prior to each IVT instillation. Twenty-seven received BCG while 2 received intravesical gemcitabine. Bacteria were identified using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Bladder microbiome changes were evaluated and differences between patients who recurred and patients who did not recur after IVT were investigated. Across the 29 patients analyzed, bacterial richness decreased significantly following intravesical therapy (Richness, P=0.01). Evenness and overall diversity did not change significantly (Pielou, P=0.62; Shannon, P=0.13). Patients who experienced recurrence had a higher relative abundance of Aerococcus in their urine (P<0.01), while those who did not recur had significantly more Ureaplasma (P=0.01) and Escherichia/Shigella species (P=0.05). Patients with decreased levels of alpha diversity were more likely to fall within the non-recurrence cohort. IVT for NMIBC appears to change the urinary microbiome by decreasing richness while not altering evenness or overall diversity. The presence of Aerococcus species may be predictive of a poor cancer response to IVT, while the presence of Ureaplasma and Escherichia/Shigella may predict a favorable response to IVT. Further studies are warranted to elucidate and confirm the significance of changes in the bladder microbiome.

MP19-16 LARGE STATE-LEVEL VARIATION IN INTRAVESICAL TREATMENT FOR NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER DURING THE BCG DRUG SHORTAGE

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP19-16 LARGE STATE-LEVEL VARIATION IN INTRAVESICAL TREATMENT FOR NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER DURING THE BCG DRUG SHORTAGE Brian Chun, Meiqi He, Cameron Jones, Robin Vasan, Bruce Jacobs, Inmaculada Hernandez, and Benjamin Davies Brian ChunBrian Chun More articles by this author , Meiqi HeMeiqi He More articles by this author , Cameron JonesCameron Jones More articles by this author , Robin VasanRobin Vasan More articles by this author , Bruce JacobsBruce Jacobs More articles by this author , Inmaculada HernandezInmaculada Hernandez More articles by this author , and Benjamin DaviesBenjamin Davies More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003244.16AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the gold standard for treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. In the last two decades, the two major manufacturers of BCG have suffered production failures or have left the market due to economic infeasibility. This has resulted in a worldwide shortage of this important biologic drug. We used a national representative dataset to describe the effect of this shortage on intravesical treatment patterns for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: Using claims data from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, we identified patients ≥66 years of age who received intravesical therapy within 1 year of bladder cancer diagnosis from 2010-2017. The BCG shortage period was defined from July 2012, when the FDA ordered Sanofi to immediately cease drug production due to a facility contamination. We estimated changes in the proportion of patients treated with BCG, mitomycin C, gemcitabine, or other intravesical agents before and during the shortage. We evaluated state-level changes in BCG induction rates before and during the shortage period. RESULTS: 7971 patients were included in our study. The proportion of eligible patients receiving BCG induction therapy decreased 5.9%, from 38.9% (1030 of 2648 patients) in the pre-shortage period, to 33.0% (1756 of 5323 patients) in the shortage period (p<0.001). Mitomycin C use increased from 24.6% in 2010 to a peak in 30.9% in 2014 and 2015 (p=0.001). The use of gemcitabine remained stable (p=0.55). Among 19 states reporting data on ≥50 patients, 16 (84%) had a decrease in BCG initiation rate during the shortage period, ranging from 5.1% (New Jersey) to 35.5% (Washington). CONCLUSIONS: During the BCG drug shortage, BCG use for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer decreased with a compensatory rise in mitomycin C. A large variation in state-level BCG utilization may reflect differences in regional practice patterns or BCG availability. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e271 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Brian Chun More articles by this author Meiqi He More articles by this author Cameron Jones More articles by this author Robin Vasan More articles by this author Bruce Jacobs More articles by this author Inmaculada Hernandez More articles by this author Benjamin Davies More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

MP54-14 MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER. DOES BCG PLAY A ROLE?

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP54-14 MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER. DOES BCG PLAY A ROLE? Valentina Grajales, Zhigang Duan, Wei Shen Tan, Roberto Contieri, Hui Zhao, Sharon Giordano, Stephen B. Williams, and Ashish M. Kamat Valentina GrajalesValentina Grajales More articles by this author , Zhigang DuanZhigang Duan More articles by this author , Wei Shen TanWei Shen Tan More articles by this author , Roberto ContieriRoberto Contieri More articles by this author , Hui ZhaoHui Zhao More articles by this author , Sharon GiordanoSharon Giordano More articles by this author , Stephen B. WilliamsStephen B. Williams More articles by this author , and Ashish M. KamatAshish M. Kamat More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003307.14AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Up to a third of cancer patients experience a mental health condition during their cancer treatment; Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been shown to be neuroprotective. Herein, we assess the incidence of mental health illness (MHI) in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients and the impact of intravesical BCG on the development of non-neurodegenerative MHI. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data set, we identified 30,991 patients diagnosed with NMIBC between 2005-2017. MHI diagnosis and BCG treatment were identified using ICD9/ICD10 diagnosis codes and HCPCS codes from Medicare inpatient, outpatient, and physician claims. We excluded developmental, organic, and neurodegenerative MHI. Descriptive statistics were done using the Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 27.0% of patients (N=8,367) received at least an induction course of BCG. Pre-existing MHI was present in 15.9% (N=4,928) of patients 1 year prior to bladder cancer diagnosis. These patients had lower rates of induction BCG (23.0% VS 27.8%, p<0.001). Excluding pre-existing MHI, 43.7% (N=11,377) of patients developed MHI after their bladder cancer diagnosis. Both female and older patients had higher rates of developing MHI (p<0.001), Table 1. Patients without pre-existing MHI treated with at least an induction course of BCG (N=7,233) had a lower MHI development rate than those who did not receive BCG (41.5% VS 44.5%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NMIBC are at high risk of developing MHI after diagnosis especially elderly and female patients. Patients who received at least induction BCG treatment had lower rates of developing de novo MHI, however, those with pre-existing MHI were less likely to receive BCG. Source of Funding: This research was supported by the Wayne B. Duddlesten Professorship in Cancer Research © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e759 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Valentina Grajales More articles by this author Zhigang Duan More articles by this author Wei Shen Tan More articles by this author Roberto Contieri More articles by this author Hui Zhao More articles by this author Sharon Giordano More articles by this author Stephen B. Williams More articles by this author Ashish M. Kamat More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...