BCG treatment for bladder cancer

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Research

Mayo Clinic researchers are advancing the understanding and treatment of bladder cancer through extensive investigation of BCG, examining how patients respond to this type of immunotherapy. They are exploring new therapeutic approaches for both BCG-naive disease and BCG-unresponsive disease, addressing critical unmet needs for patients whose cancers recur or progress despite standard therapy. These research efforts aim to personalize treatment, expand therapeutic options and improve quality of life for patients with bladder cancer through translational research and clinical innovation. Cancer research is conducted in coordination with Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Publications

See a list of publications about BCG treatment for bladder cancer by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

By Mayo Clinic Staff
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Sept. 18, 2026
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  1. Holzbeierlein JM, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: AUA/SUO guideline: 2024 amendment. Journal of Urology. 2024; doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000003846.
  2. Flaig TW, et al. Bladder cancer, version 1.2026, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2026; doi:10.6004/jnccn.2026.0022.
  3. Abou Chakra M, et al. Update on the mechanism of action of intravesical BCG therapy to treat non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark. 2024; doi:10.31083/j.fbl2908295.
  4. Liatsos GD, et al. Review of BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2025; doi:10.1128/cmr.00194-23.
  5. TICE BCG (prescribing information). Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c9b74876-e665-442b-87ad-b7333bc9a67a. Accessed Sept. 9, 2026.
  6. Oh C, et al. BCG intolerance in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer — A systematic review. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2025; doi:10.1111/ans.70281.
  7. Peng Y, et al. Safety profiles of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in bladder cancer. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2024; doi:10.1080/21645515.2024.2425529.
  8. Li R, et al. Bladder-sparing therapy for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: International Bladder Cancer Group recommendations for optimal sequencing and patient selection. European Urology. 2024; doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2024.08.001.
  9. Abou Chakra M, et al. Combination intravesical chemotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) as first-line or rescue therapy: Where do we stand now? Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2024; doi:10.1080/14656566.2024.2310073.
  10. FDA approves nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-nogapendekin-alfa-inbakicept-pmln-bcg-unresponsive-non-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer. Accessed Sept. 9, 2026.
  11. Heiss BL, et al. FDA approval summary: Nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln with BCG for BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ. Clinical Cancer Research. 2025; doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-1231.
  12. Inlexzo (prescribing information). Janssen Biotech, Inc.; 2025. https://www.inlexzo.com. Accessed Sept. 9, 2026.
  13. Daneshmand S, et al. TAR-200 for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Results from the phase IIb SunRISe-1 study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2025; doi:10.1200/JCO-25-01651.
  14. Imfinzi (prescribing information). AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; 2026. https://www.imfinzi.com. Accessed Sept. 9, 2026.
  15. De Santis M, et al. Durvalumab in combination with BCG for BCG-naive, high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (POTOMAC): Final analysis of a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. 2025; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01897-5.
  16. Scilipoti P, et al. Efficacy and safety of checkpoint inhibitors combined with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in BCG-naïve high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Synthesis of evidence from the ALBAN, CREST, and POTOMAC trials. European Urology. 2026; doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2025.12.022.
  17. Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Sept. 15, 2026.

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