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Antiproliferative effects of bacillus Calmette-Guérin and interferon α2b on human bladder cancer cells in vitro

  • Original Article
  • Bladder Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Transitional Cell, BCG Vaccine, Interferon, Immunotherapy
  • Published:
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Direct inhibitory effects of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and interferon α2b (IFNα2b) on six human bladder carcinoma cell lines, UCRU-BL-13, UCRU-BL-17, UCRU-BL-28, 5637, T24 and J82, were studied using an in vitro proliferation assay. Effects on proliferation following exposure to BCG or IFNα2b were analysed by [3H]thymidine incorporation over 7 days. BCG had an antiproliferative effect on all bladder lines, while sensitivity to IFNα2b varied greatly, being as remarkably low as 1 U/ml for some lines. The antiproliferative effect was greatest when cells were exposed continuously to either agent, but was still evident with a limited exposure. When clinical concentrations were simulated in vitro, BCG+IFNα2b was more effective than BCG alone and as effective as a double BCG concentration. We conclude that, in addition to their immunomodulatory effects, BCG and IFNα2b directly inhibit the proliferation of human bladder cancer cells, and often at extremely low concentrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Immunology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, 2010, Darlinghurst, N.S.W., Australia

    Kimberley Pryor & Ronald Penny

  2. Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, 2010, Darlinghurst, N.S.W., Australia

    Phillip Stricker & David Golovsky

  3. Gemtourinary Cancer Research Group, Oncology Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street, 2031, Randwick, N.S.W., Australia

    Pamela Russell

  4. The University of New South Wales, 2052, Kensington, N.S.W., Australia

    Pamela Russell & Ronald Penny

Authors
  1. Kimberley Pryor
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  2. Phillip Stricker
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  3. Pamela Russell
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  4. David Golovsky
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  5. Ronald Penny
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Pryor, K., Stricker, P., Russell, P. et al. Antiproliferative effects of bacillus Calmette-Guérin and interferon α2b on human bladder cancer cells in vitro. Cancer Immunol Immunother 41, 309–316 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01517219

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01517219

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