A mycobacterium could replace current bladder cancer treatment

Mycobacteria are the only bacteria that are used to treat cancer. In the case of superficial bladder cancer, the mycobacterium Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) is delivered through a catheter directly into the bladder in patients after tumor removal. BCG prevents the appearance of new tumors but, despite its effectiveness, this treatment carries many adverse effects, the most serious of which are cases of BCG infections that must be treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs.

The research, initiated seven years ago by the Mycobacteria Research group and directed by Dr. Esther Julián, from the Department of Genetics and Microbiology of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​has led to the discovery of the antitumor capacity of Mycobacterium brumae . Researchers have studied the characteristics of a large group of mycobacteria and have shown that, of all of them, M. brumae is capable of reducing the growth of bladder tumor cells and activating an immune response.

Preclinical studies carried out with bladder cancer model mice have demonstrated the efficacy of the mycobacterium M. brumae in the treatment of this disease. Mice with bladder tumors that have been treated with M. brumae in the same way that patients are treated survive longer than untreated mice and even more than those treated with the usual mycobacterium, BCG. .

Studies carried out at the UAB have also shown that M. brumae is not pathogenic, that is, it has no risk of causing infections. Research indicates, therefore, that it would have fewer adverse effects in patients than those present with BCG.

Furthermore, the fact that M. brumae is a fast-growing and non-pathogenic mycobacterium makes its large-scale production easier and faster than BCG production. In fact, in recent years the difficulties in producing BCG have been causing problems in its supply for the treatment of patients with bladder cancer.

"The results obtained indicate that Mycobacterium brumae is an ideal candidate to replace current BCG treatment for superficial bladder cancer", concludes UAB researcher Esther Julián.

The work, published in the journal European Urology Focus , has been carried out in collaboration with Dr. Rosa M. Rabanal from the Murine and Comparative Pathology Unit of the Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery of the UAB, and the Bacterial Infections and antimicrobial Therapies group led by Dr. Eduard Torrents, from the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).