Understanding how bladder cancer resists treatment with BCG therapy
Official title: Identifying novel resistance mechanisms in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10881778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer don’t get better with the usual BCG treatment, and it aims to find new ways to help those patients by understanding how their immune system might be resisting the therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 4, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $187,642 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA274148-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10881778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who have received BCG therapy but experienced recurrence or progression of their disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer or those who have not undergone BCG therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind why some patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer do not respond to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy, which is the standard treatment for this condition. The study aims to identify specific immune resistance pathways that may contribute to treatment failure, focusing on the role of immune checkpoints like PD-L1 and HLA-E/NKG2A. By analyzing patient samples and treatment responses, the researchers hope to uncover new targets for therapy that could improve outcomes for those who do not respond to BCG. This work could lead to more effective treatment strategies for bladder cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with bladder cancer who currently do not respond to BCG therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting immune resistance mechanisms in cancer, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sfakianos, John — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sfakianos, John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Nrf2 in T cells and how it could boost immune power against bladder cancer
A small grant will explore how a T-cell protein called Nrf2 affects muscle-invasive bladder cancer and whether targeting it could help patients respond better to immune therapies.
-
Repurposing spironolactone to treat bladder cancer inside the bladder
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Body fats and immune signals shaping bladder cancer outlook
This study will look at how body composition and immune/inflammatory states at diagnosis relate to the outlook for people with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
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Novel combination immunotherapy for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Researchers are testing a new combination approach using a special anti-CD40 antibody with existing bladder cancer therapies to help patients whose NMIBC did not respond to standard BCG treatment.
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Why some bladder cancers don't respond to BCG treatment
This project will use detailed tissue and genetic tests to look for what makes some non-muscle invasive bladder cancers resist BCG so better treatments can be found for people who don't respond.
-
Salt-based nanomedicine to treat bladder cancer that doesn’t respond to standard BCG therapy
A patient-focused overview of a new salt-based nanoparticle therapy designed to target non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that is resistant to BCG treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.