$Unique_ID{BRK01133} $Pretitle{} $Title{"BCG" as a Bladder Cancer Treatment} $Subject{bladder cancer treatment treatments medication medications carcinoma cancers cancerous neoplasm neoplasms carcinoma-in-situ TheraCys BCG bacillus Calmette Geurin adriamycin} $Volume{B-16,R-16} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. "BCG" as a Bladder Cancer Treatment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: After the necessary tests and biopsy, I am told by my doctor that I have a type of bladder cancer that should respond to a new treatment called "BCG". I understand that this is a bacteria that causes tuberculosis, and do not understand how this is used to treat my disease. I can't find any information about it, and hope you may be able to explain it to me. Please! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: Little wonder that you are confused, for this is a brand new development in the treatment of a type of a carcinoma of the bladder known as carcinoma-in-situ. The medication just recently approved for this use by the Food and Drug Administration is called TheraCys, and is manufactured by Connaght Laboratories Limited of Toronto, Canada. The letters "BCG" stand for the "bacillus of Calmette and Geurin," two French researchers who cultured a strain tuberculosis bacteria in eggs until it lost its ability to produce the disease in man but could still stimulate the immune response. Though it was first used as a vaccine for this purpose in 1924, it is still considered controversial, and while it is used in most third world countries, it is not widely used in the United States. In 1976, Dr. Alvero Morales of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, documented that a different formulation and concentration of BCG was effective in the treatment of bladder cancer patients. The treatment begins from 7 to 14 days after a biopsy or bladder surgery, when the medication is placed into the bladder itself. This is repeated each week for six weeks (induction therapy), after which it is followed up by a maintenance schedule given at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months following the initial treatment. The most common adverse reactions are flu-like symptoms including fever, chills and malaise. The clinical studies showed a average complete response rate, that is no recurrence of tumors, of 74 percent, as compared to 42 percent with adriamycin, another cancer fighting drug. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.