Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin immunotherapy in the bilharzial bladder: a new treatment modality? Phase II trial: superficial bladder cancer.

Abstract

The efficacy of immunotherapy with keyhole-limpet hemocyanin or bacillus Calmette-Guerin for superficial bladder cancer is well known. A strong similarity has been noted between keyhole-limpet hemocyanin antigen and schistosomal antigen. In regard to this finding, we investigated the mechanisms of specific immunotherapy with keyhole-limpet hemocyanin in schistosomal associated transitional cell carcinoma. Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin was used for its ability to prevent tumor recurrence and because of its similarity to schistosomal antigen for intravesical specific immunotherapy in 13 patients with superficial transitional cell bladder tumors (Ta, Tis, T1) associated with urinary schistosomiasis. Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin immunotherapy reduced the recurrence rate of superficial bladder tumors to 15.4% compared to 76.9% before therapy.