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At the 2024 Society of Urologic Oncology Annual Meeting in Dallas, Mark Tyson, M.D., a urologic oncologist and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher shared groundbreaking findings on a novel treatment for invasive bladder cancer patients who no longer respond to the common therapy, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
The treatment, known as cretostimogene grenadenorepvec, is an oncolytic immunotherapy—a virus engineered to selectively target and destroy cancer cells while boosting the immune system's response to bladder tumors.
In a study involving 110 participants, nearly 75% experienced complete remission, with many remaining cancer-free for over two years. Additionally, the majority of participants avoided bladder removal surgery, a common but life-altering procedure, and reported minimal serious side effects.
“These findings address a significant unmet need for bladder cancer patients and could improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Tyson. “We now know this treatment can be both effective and safe, potentially reducing the need for bladder removal surgery and providing a much-needed alternative for patients with limited options.”
Ongoing research aims to evaluate the therapy's long-term efficacy and explore potential benefits when combined with other treatments.
Dr. Tyson presented the abstract, "Topline Results: BOND-003 cohort C — A phase 3, single-arm study of intravesical cretostimogene grenadenorepvec for high-risk BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ," on Dec. 5.
This breakthrough represents a hopeful advancement for bladder cancer patients seeking effective, less invasive treatment options.
Original article published in Mayo Clinic News Network
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