Adding interferon to BCG may be a viable option for improving outcomes in patients with high-risk or recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who are unable or unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy, according to researchers. In a paper published online ahead of print in BJU International, a team at Auckland City Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, led by Toni O'Regan, MD, noted that a combination of interferon alfa-2b and BCG works synergistically by increasing the immunologic effects of BCG at lower doses, thereby increasing its tolerability and ameliorating some of the adverse effects associated with its use.
Using interferon alfa-2b with BCG is the current practice at their institution for NMIBC patients unable or unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy, the next management step recommended by guidelines. The investigators analyzed the outcomes of the combination…
