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Nonsurgical Treatment Options
Post-Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)

Available options include systemic immunotherapy, BCG rescue, and other intravesical fluid instillations1

ancient slab icon: rates of complications
partially full bladder icon

Intravesical chemotherapy1

Mechanism of action:

targets different stages of the cell cycle to kill cancer cells

Mode of delivery:

intravesical fluid instillation

partially full bladder icon

Intravesical immunotherapy1

Mechanism of action:

activates the body's immune system

Mode of delivery:

intravesical fluid instillation

partially full bladder icon

Intravesical gene therapy1

Mechanism of action:

helps to produce and secrete cytokine

Mode of delivery:

intravesical fluid instillation

drip bag icon

Systemic immunotherapy1

Mechanism of action:

restores T-cell response and immune response

Mode of delivery:

intravenous infusion

ancient slab icon: rates of complications

The majority of nonsurgical NMIBC treatment options rely on intravesical fluid instillations

bladder icon
  • Intravesical treatments deliver therapy directly to the bladder, while limiting systemic exposure2,3
  • Intravesical treatments rely on contact with the urothelium to ensure exposure to therapy2,3
References:

  1. Treating bladder cancer. American Cancer Society. Accessed January 3, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/bladder-cancer/treating.html

  2. Packiam VT, Johnson SC, Steinberg GD. Non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer: intravesical treatments beyond Bacille Calmette–Guérin. Cancer.2017;123(3):390-400. doi:10.1002/cncr.30392

  3. Intravesical administration of therapeutic medication for the treatment of bladder cancer. American Urological Association. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.auanet.org/about-us/aua-statements/intravesical-administration-of-therapeutic-medication