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Anyone treated with Adstiladrin for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer?

Posted by DAVID B. @davidpball, Jul 22, 2024

Does anyone have experience with adstiladrin for treatment of BCG refractive NMIBC?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.

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jaxfl | @jaxfl | Nov 14, 2025
In reply to @allenshirl "I failed the BCG treatments after TURBT. 2nd TURBT shows aggressive high grade T1 with LP..." + (show)
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I failed the BCG treatments after TURBT. 2nd TURBT shows aggressive high grade T1 with LP invasion. Plan is for 3rd TURBT followed by Adstlidrin treatments.
I would like to hear from anyone who has had these treatments.

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Usually they do a cytology for corroboration.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 28, 2025
In reply to @djr5 "Update to June 4, 2025 comment. I had the second Adstiladrin treatment on June 20, 2025...." + (show)
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Update to June 4, 2025 comment. I had the second Adstiladrin treatment on June 20, 2025. A cystoscopy on September 5, 2025, showed tumors in the bladder; a CAT scan on September 16, 2025, confirmed the presence of the tumors, and a biopsy was set for October 24, 2025. I had another Adstiladrin treatment during the interim , on September 19, 2025. On October 24, 2025, at the biopsy, the urologist found the bladder to be clear of any tumors (he spent an extra 15 minutes searching, but found nothing). However, he did find a thickening of the tissue in the right ureter near the bladder. This was brushed (not cut) and pathology found no malignant cells, but said the sample was too small to provide a firm finding. Pathology did find some squamous cells and some cells without nuclei. The urologist placed a 10-inch plastic stent in the right ureter, from bladder to right kidney. It is temporary and will come out on November 18, 2025; another cystoscopy then, too. Urologist is scheduling a PET scan, in coordination with my oncologist. So, as of the time of this writing, it appears that Adstiladrin is still working for me in keeping the bladder tumors at bay. Barring any changes, I'll have my fourth intravesical treatment in mid-December. I'm grateful, and looking forward to Thanksgiving with all the grandchildren.

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@djr5 how did the stent removal and cystoscopy go?

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djr5 | @djr5 | Nov 28, 2025
In reply to @colleenyoung "@djr5 how did the stent removal and cystoscopy go?" + (show)
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@djr5 how did the stent removal and cystoscopy go?

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@colleenyoung

Hi Colleen - The stent removal went off without a hitch, and the Adstiladrin treatment will occur the week before Christmas. They've set up a PET scan for next week, so there will be more information to consider. Thank you for asking! I hope all is well with you and yours.

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samollie | @samollie | Jun 18 5:53am

Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth so tried Gen/Doce but could not hold in bladder. He went for 9 months without growth and now has a new growth. Doing more research, has anyone tried adstiladrin or the device implant for Gen/doce?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Jun 18 8:24am
In reply to @samollie "Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth..." + (show)
Profile picture for samollie @samollie

Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth so tried Gen/Doce but could not hold in bladder. He went for 9 months without growth and now has a new growth. Doing more research, has anyone tried adstiladrin or the device implant for Gen/doce?

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Hello @samollie. If you use the search window above with the magnifying glass and type in Adstiladrin you will find previous discussions and many responses from patients such as:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/curious-about-experiencesresults-from-adstiladrin-treatments/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adstiladrin/
This drug was still in testing when my husband was being treated but doctors were very hopeful that it would be helpful.

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djr5 | @djr5 | Jun 19 8:22am
In reply to @allenshirl "I failed the BCG treatments after TURBT. 2nd TURBT shows aggressive high grade T1 with LP..." + (show)
Profile picture for allen1947 @allenshirl

I failed the BCG treatments after TURBT. 2nd TURBT shows aggressive high grade T1 with LP invasion. Plan is for 3rd TURBT followed by Adstlidrin treatments.
I would like to hear from anyone who has had these treatments.

Jump to this post

Update: I had another Adstiladrin treatment on January 6, 2026. Another tumor was found in February and Adstiladrin was stopped. I had a TURBT performed on March 24, 2026, and the pathology report said it was NMIBC pT1, in the labial tissue but not the muscle wall. I then went to Mayo Clinic - Rochester and saw Dr. Paras Shah at Mayo Clinic - Rochester. He did a cystoscopy on April 8, 2026, and his team performed a TURBT on May 8, 2026 (Dr. Ross Avant). I set up AI based predictive testing (VESTA) by Valar Labs, March 24, 2026, sent them a pathology sample, and the results indicated I did not have the biomarkers that predict BCG will be ineffective. On Dr. Shah's advice, I began a six week course of BCG (Tice) on June 1st, with a cystoscopy scheduled for August 17th and then six more treatments, depending on results.

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looking4elk | @looking4elk | Jun 24 5:28pm
In reply to @samollie "Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth..." + (show)
Profile picture for samollie @samollie

Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth so tried Gen/Doce but could not hold in bladder. He went for 9 months without growth and now has a new growth. Doing more research, has anyone tried adstiladrin or the device implant for Gen/doce?

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I recently had stage 4 bladder cancer went through all chemo treatments all cancer was gone but they still wanted to remove bladder I said no so my doctor said will do cysctomy they seen some scar tissue so they went scrape that out to see if was cancerous came back no cancer my oncologist doctor gave me 2 options which were finished my chemo treatment cycle which we cut short 2nd option was every 3 months do blood work and cysctomy to see if cancer comes back mainly just keep a close eye on it we choose the 2nd option believing the Lord as heal me Jesus is still the great physician and is healer

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 1 11:33am
In reply to @samollie "Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth..." + (show)
Profile picture for samollie @samollie

Mu husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Had BCG that resulted in another growth so tried Gen/Doce but could not hold in bladder. He went for 9 months without growth and now has a new growth. Doing more research, has anyone tried adstiladrin or the device implant for Gen/doce?

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@samollie, I moved your question about Adstiladrin (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) to this existing discussion so that you can connect with other members who have experience with this treatment like davidpball @fmosby @rdbliven @djr5 @allenshirl @vejan738 @bubbablue @nana2three2025.

- Anyone treated with Adstiladrin for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adstiladrin/
@samollie, how is your husband doing?

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