Immunotherapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: from the origins of BCG to novel therapies

Unsworth-White, Samantha R; Kitchen, Mark O; Bryan, Richard T

Abstract

Supplies of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the first-line treatment for most intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC), have proven unreliable over the past decade. This review considers the evolution of BCG immunotherapy for NMIBC: from the discovery of the antitumour side effects of tuberculosis and subsequently the BCG vaccine, to recent advances in novel immunotherapeutic agents. We summarize the evidence for alternative options to standard intravesical BCG therapy regimens and describe the potential for immune response manipulating drugs in the treatment of NMIBC. These new agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, toll-like receptor agonists and recombinant viral vectors, may provide better options in the management of NMIBC in the future.

Citation

Unsworth-White, S. R., Kitchen, M. O., & Bryan, R. T. (2022). Immunotherapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: from the origins of BCG to novel therapies. Future Oncology, 18(1), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2021-0781

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 12, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2023
• Journal: Future Oncology
• Print ISSN: 1479-6694
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-8301
• Publisher: Future Medicine
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 105-115
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2021-0781
• Keywords: Cancer Research; Oncology; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/468996
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/fon-2021-0781