Trade Names:Tice BCG- Powder for suspension, lyophilized 1 to 8 × 10 8 colony-forming units
Trade Names:TheraCys- Powder for suspension, lyophilized 10.5 ± 8.7 × 10 8 colony-forming units
ImmuCyst (Canada)OncoTICE (Canada)Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a lyophilized preparation of an attenuated, live culture preparation of the BCG strain of Mycobacterium bovis used in carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder and as prophylaxis of primary or recurrent stage Ta or T1 papillary tumors following TUR. Precise mechanism of action is unknown.
Treatment and prophylaxis of carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder; prophylaxis of primary or recurrent stage Ta and/or T1 papillary tumors following transurethral resection TUR.
Local control of accessible tumor.
Immunosuppressed patients or persons with congenital or acquired immune deficiencies; patients with current symptoms or a previous history of systemic BCG reaction; persons with active tuberculosis; postpone treatment until resolution of a concurrent febrile illness, UTI, or gross hematuria; allow 14 days to elapse following biopsy, TUR, or traumatic catheterization.
Intravesical Each dose is administered intravesically via catheter once a wk for 6 wk followed by maintenance therapy consisting of 1 dose given at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo after initial treatment.
Adults ( Tice BCG )Intravesical Each dose is administered intravesically via catheter once a wk for 6 wk. This schedule may be repeated once if tumor remission is not achieved and if deemed clinically necessary; thereafter, administer 1 dose at approximately monthly intervals for at least 6 to 12 mo.
Keep BCG and any accompanying diluent refrigerated between 35° and 46°F. Use immediately after reconstitution and discard after 2 h. Do not expose the freeze-dried or reconstituted BCG to sunlight, direct or indirect. Keep exposure to artificial light to a minimum. Do not use any reconstituted product that exhibits flocculation or clumping that cannot be dispersed with gentle shaking. Do not use after expiration date printed on label.
Antimicrobial therapy for other infections may interfere with the effectiveness of BCG therapy.
Bone marrow depressants/immunosuppressants/radiationMay impair immune response to BCG.
May result in tuberculin skin reactivity.
Cardiac (unclassified), coagulopathy (less than 5%).
Malaise (40%); fatigue (7%); neurologic unclassified, pyuria (1%); dizziness, headache (less than 5%).
Skin rash (less than 5%).
Conjunctivitis, BCG eye infection, granulomatous chorioretinitis, iritis, keratitis, uveitis (postmarketing).
Nausea/vomiting (16%); anorexia (11%); diarrhea (6%); abdominal pain, constipation (less than 5%).
Dysuria (60%); urinary frequency (50%); hematuria (39%); cystitis (29%); urgency, UTI (18%); genital pain, renal toxicity (10%); hemorrhagic cystitis (9%); bladder cramps (8%); urinary incontinence (6%); contracted bladder (5%); urinary debris (2%); epididymitis/prostatitis, orchitis, urethritis, urinary obstruction (1%); tissue in urine, urethral obstruction (less than 5%); BCG kidney infection, epididymo-orchitis, genitourinary tract infections, granulomatous prostatitis, peritoneum and prostate infections, renal abscess, urinary symptoms (postmarketing).
Anemia (21%); leukopenia (5%); thrombocytopenia (less than 5%); BCG bone, bone marrow, and regional lymph node infections (postmarketing).
Liver involvement (less than 5%); hepatic granuloma, hepatitis (1%); BCG liver infection (postmarketing).
Anorexia (11%); weight loss (2%).
Arthralgia, myalgia (7%); rigors (3%); arthritis, migratory arthritis (postmarketing).
Pulmonary infection (less than 5%); respiratory unclassified (2%); pneumonitis (1%); BCG lung infection (postmarketing).
Fever (38%); chills (34%); flu-like syndrome (33%); pain (17%); flank pain, local infection, systemic infection (less than 5%); diaphoresis (3%); allergy (2%); BCG sepsis (1%); serious infections including disseminated sepsis and death (postmarketing).
Category C .
Undetermined.
Safety and efficacy not established.
No overall difference in safety or efficacy was observed between older and younger patients.
Systemic adverse reactions (eg, malaise, fever, chills) of 1 to 2 days' duration may represent hypersensitivity reactions and can be treated with antihistamines.
Fever of 103°F or more, or acute localized inflammation persisting longer than 2 or 3 days suggest active infections and evaluation for serious infectious complications should be considered.
The acute, localized irritative toxicities of BCG may be accompanied by systemic manifestations consistent with flu-like syndrome.
Risk of occurrence may be increased in patients with small bladder capacity.
Administer with caution to persons at high risk for HIV infection. Do not vaccinate children with a family history of immune deficiency disease.
BCG infection of aneurysms and prosthetic devices (eg, arterial grafts, artificial joints, cardiac devices) have been reported following intravesical administration of BCG.
The vial stopper for TheraCys contains natural rubber latex that may cause allergic reactions.
Do not give intravesical BCG any sooner than 1 to 2 wk following TUR, biopsy, traumatic catheterization, or gross hematuria.
Do not use in the presence of a UTI because administration may increase the risk of disseminated BCG infection or increase the severity of bladder irritation.
Overdosage (eg, active local or systemic BCG infection) occurs if more than 1 amp/vial is given per instillation.
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