Treating & Preventing Recurrence of Tumors

>Treating Ta and T1 tumors and/or CIS with TICE® BCG, BCG LIVE (For Intravesical Use)

TICE® BCG is a bacterial preparation of a strain called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). It contains live, attenuated bacteria.⁶ The medication was developed as a vaccine against tuberculosis but has been found useful in treating certain bladder cancers. Doctors have been using TICE® BCG for many years to treat and prevent recurrence of tumors in patients with bladder CIS and in preventing recurrence of Ta and T1 papillary tumors that occur in the absence of CIS.

How BCG works to treat bladder cancer is not completely understood. A partial explanation is that it appears to produce an inflammation in the lining of the bladder and it also seems to stimulate the immune system, the body’s defense mechanism against disease.

In order to work, BCG must be in direct contact with the tumor cells. That’s why it is instilled -- administered directly into the bladder -- instead of being given by injection.

BCG is an effective treatment for bladder CIS and is also considered to be an effective preventive therapy for papillary tumors and CIS.^6-8 For BCG to work most successfully, you must actively cooperate with your doctor. This website describes TICE® BCG treatment in general; however, if you need more specific information about your treatment, please speak with your doctor.

References:

1. How many people get bladder cancer? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed June 26, 2007.
2. Do we know what causes bladder cancer? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed June 26, 2007.
3. What are the risk factors for bladder cancer? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed June 26, 2007.
4. How is bladder cancer staged? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed June 26, 2007.
5. Surgery. http://www.cancer.org. Accessed June 26, 2007.
6. De Jager R, Guinan P, Lamm D, et al. Long-term complete remission in bladder carcinoma in situ with intravesical TICE bacillus Calmette Guerin. Urology. 1991;38(6):507-513.
7. Lamm DL, Blumenstein BA, Crawford ED, et al. Randomized intergroup comparison of bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy and mitomycin C chemotherapy prophylaxis in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Urol Oncol. 1995;1(3):119-126.
8. BCG Live (For Intravesical Use) Tice® BCG [prescribing information]. Roseland, NJ: Organon USA Inc.
9. Sylvester RJ, van der Meijden AP, Lamm DL. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin reduces the risk of progression in patients with superficial bladder cancer: a meta-analysis of the published results of randomized clinical trials. J Urol. 2002;168:1964–1970.

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