A recent pilot study suggests that administering a second tuberculosis (TB) vaccination, known as RUTI, after surgery may enhance the immune response in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, potentially reducing cancer recurrence. The study involved 40 patients who, after tumor-removal surgery, received the standard Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment directly into the bladder. Those who were additionally given the RUTI vaccine exhibited a heightened immune response and remained cancer-free after five years, with no discernible side effects.
Bladder cancer ranks as the ninth most common cancer globally, with over 600,000 new cases diagnosed in 2022. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer affects the bladder’s lining without penetrating the muscle layer. While BCG therapy post-surgery reduces recurrence, up to 50% of patients still experience disease return or progression. The RUTI vaccine, a non-live TB vaccine, was tested to determine if it could further bolster the immune system’s ability to combat residual cancer cells. The findings indicate that RUTI vaccination significantly enhances the BCG-induced immune response, suggesting a promising avenue for improving long-term outcomes in bladder cancer patients. Click for More Details
