Bropirimine, an orally active anticancer agent for superficial bladder cancer

To investigate efficacy and safety of bropirimine, a new orally active interferon inducer, in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

Twenty patients with histologically confirmed recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma (Ta or T1) were studied. At least one marker lesion remained in all patients after transurethral resection. Bropirimine (750 mg) was given orally three times at 2-hour intervals (daily dose 2,250 mg) on 3 consecutive days weekly for 12 weeks.

Of the 17 evaluable patients, 1 did not complete the treatment protocol. There were 5 responders, including 2 with a complete response (complete disappearance of the marker tumor) and 3 with a partial response (>50% reduction of the marker tumor). The objective response rate was 31.3% (5/16; 95% confidence interval 11.0-58.7%) for the 16 patients completing treatment and 29.4% (5/17; 95% confidence interval 10.3-56.0%) for the 17 evaluable patients. Adverse reactions occurred in 70.6% of the evaluable patients. Flu-like symptoms were most common, including malaise (23.5%), headache (23.5), and fever (11.8%), followed by gastrointestinal symptoms including less of appetite (23.5%). All of these reactions were tolerable.

Bropirimine may be useful for the prophylaxis of recurrence following transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer because it shows efficacy against marker tumors and has a good safety profile and oral activity.