Why some bladder cancers don't respond to BCG treatment
Official title: Multi-scale analysis of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) resistant tumor micro-environment in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer to identify novel therapeutic axis
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11322536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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 | April 17, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,333 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA301050-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who have received or will receive intravesical BCG and can provide tumor tissue samples before and after treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without available tumor tissue, those with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, or those who have never been treated with BCG are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect tumor tissue from people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer before and after BCG treatment from patients who respond and those who do not. They will apply single-cell and spatial sequencing methods, including ATAC-seq, to map cell types, gene activity, and where cells sit in the tumor microenvironment. By building a comprehensive molecular atlas and comparing pre- and post-BCG samples, the team aims to identify the cellular signals and pathways linked to BCG resistance. Those molecular findings will be used to suggest new therapeutic targets or tests to predict who may not benefit from BCG.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biomarkers or drug targets that help predict or overcome BCG resistance, leading to more effective options for NMIBC patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous single-cell and spatial studies in bladder cancer have shown promise but were small and often focused on later-stage tumors, so a comprehensive pre/post-BCG atlas is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Won-Min — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Song, Won-Min
Related research
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Nrf2 in T cells and how it could boost immune power against bladder cancer
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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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Salt-based nanomedicine to treat bladder cancer that doesn’t respond to standard BCG therapy
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HLA‑E/NKG2A immune 'brake' in early bladder cancer
The team is exploring whether targeting an immune 'brake' called HLA‑E/NKG2A can help people with non‑muscle‑invasive (early) bladder cancer who receive BCG therapy.
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.