Towards individualization of bladder cancer therapy: the role of microbiome in BCG responsiveness prediction.
Target group
Patients with bladder cancer that has not yet grown into the muscle.
Aim of the study
In the case of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a medium and high risk of disease progression, maintenance therapy with the immune drug BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is usually given after the operation, but unfortunately this does not work equally well for all patients.
In our research project, we primarily want to find out whether it is possible to use the so-called microbiome in the stool and bladder to estimate the success of treatment before starting BCG therapy. Another goal is to establish a biobank for future microbiome projects. In order to understand the differences and the influence of the microbiome on the response to BCG therapy, clinical data, blood, urine and stool samples as well as samples from surgical incisions of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer are analyzed. Patients without urological malignancy are also included in the study; this group corresponds to the control group. Regardless of the patient group classification, there are no additional appointments for patients participating in the study. Several urological centers in Switzerland are participating in the study.