[Lower toxicity with the topical low-dose BCG therapy of superficial bladder carcinoma?]

Twelve patients with superficial bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ of the bladder were treated with intravesically instilled BCG solution. As suggested by Pagano's group, we used BCG in a lower dose than usual hitherto (75 mg, strain Pasteur Paris). Complete tumor remission was obtained in all patients except the two whose treatment had to be discontinued at an early stage because of severe side effects. None of our patients was free of symptoms; pain or micturition, pollakiuria, gross hematuria, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and epididymitis occurred. We think, therefore, that low-dose therapy with BCG is as effective as full-dose therapy but the side effects are no less severe.