Ankaferd versus Immunotherapeutics and Chemotherapeutics in Bladder Cancer

To evaluate the antineoplastic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) compared with standard immunotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic agents in primary bladder cancer cell cultures.

Tumour tissues taken from patients who underwent transurethral bladder tumour resection due to primary bladder tumour were grown in primary cell culture (PCC). Each patient was divided into six different groups. Ankaferd Blood Stopper, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), gemcitabine (GCB), ABS + BCG and ABS + GCB combinations were applied to the groups. A 24-h viability assay was performed for all groups.

Amongst the 24 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer, 4 were excluded due to the detection of muscle invasive bladder cancer on pathological evaluation. Consequently, 20 patients with confirmed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were included in the study. Patients treated with BCG, ABS and GCB were compared with the control group, and the average cell viability rates were 39.20%, 32.30% and 42.00%, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, combination treatments (ABS + BCG and ABS + GCB) resulted in significant reductions in viability (p < 0.001). Despite similarities in stages, histological types and grades, the viability outcomes following drug treatment varied.

ABS negatively impacted the survival outcomes of bladder cancer cells. Upon examination of the results for each bladder tumour, despite identical stages and grades, the viability responses still varied. These findings support further investigation of personalised treatment and ABS as a potential adjunct in bladder cancer therapy.