[The intravesical administration of BCG vaccine in treating recurrent superficial bladder cancer]

The authors consider general immunological effects of intravesical BCG vaccine as an independent method of immunotherapy of superficial cancer of the bladder (CB). 27 patients (15 males and 12 females, mean age 57 years) with a recurrence of superficial CB (T1-2N0M0) were treated. The patients had undergone transurethral or transvesical bladder resection and combined therapy. Intravesical immunotherapy of CB recurrence with BCG vaccine induced persistent changes in the immune system: stimulate lymphocyte activity and phagocytic activity of neutrophils, T-cell function, normalizes function of endogenic suppressors, increases the amount of IgM and CIC. Repeat courses of the vaccine maintain the above immunological effects for a long time.