Reduced Dose Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin: Why It Might Not Matter

Abstract

When it comes to the treatment of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), two questions must be considered: 1) what dose to give, and 2) for how long? The issue of optimal dose and duration has been the subject of several randomized trials and is especially pertinent in the context of a global BCG shortage. Despite this, there appears to be uncertainty as to whether BCG dose or duration may be compromised in the event of shortage. As such, we wish to summarize the available evidence as an aid to the practicing urologist.