[Indications for BCG in surface tumors of the bladder]

Overall view of Bacille de Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy in the prophylaxis and treatment of surface cancer of the bladder. A series of issues, on some of which a consensus has been reached while controversy is still frequent in others are discussed. Intravesical instillation of BCG as the single route has been considered to best mode of administration. With regard to the BCG strain to be used, there is still no consensus after the analysis of the data provided by the studies conducted. Relative to the treatment schedule, it appears clear that maintenance therapy is superior to an exclusively induction regime. No consensus has been reached about optimal dosage or the possibility to reduce toxicity. Although some studies support the belief that intravesical immunotherapy with BCG is superior to chemotherapy, further data is required to confirm such assumption. In conclusion, although treatment with BCG has proven to be effective in patients with surface tumours of the bladder, it should not be considered a panacea to be indiscriminately used in any patient with this malignancy.