Immune Biomarkers May Predict Bladder Cancer Therapy Response

Northwestern Medicine researchers have identified immune system markers that may help predict which patients respond to BCG bladder cancer therapy and which do not, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The findings could lead to more personalized treatment approaches for bladder cancer, a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, and BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) therapy has been a standard treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer for decades. However, up to 40% of patients do not respond to the therapy, and there has been no reliable way to predict who will benefit. The new research, led by scientists at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, focused on analyzing immune cells and biomarkers in tumor samples from patients undergoing BCG therapy.

The study identified specific immune markers, including certain types of T cells and cytokine profiles, that were associated with treatment response. Patients who responded well to BCG therapy had higher levels of certain immune cells in their tumors compared to non-responders. These biomarkers could potentially be used to guide treatment decisions, sparing non-responders from ineffective therapy and its side effects while directing them to alternative treatments earlier.

The findings also have implications for other immunotherapies. As the field of immuno-oncology advances, biomarkers that predict response are becoming increasingly important. Companies like Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) are working to refine immunotherapies, and such biomarker research could complement their efforts by identifying which patients are most likely to benefit.

Bladder cancer accounts for approximately 81,000 new cases and 17,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. The current standard of care after BCG failure includes radical cystectomy (removal of the bladder), which is a major surgery with significant impact on quality of life. Having a predictive biomarker could help avoid unnecessary surgeries for patients who would respond to BCG, while enabling earlier intervention for those who will not.

The study’s authors caution that larger clinical trials are needed to validate the biomarkers before they can be used in clinical practice. However, the results represent a promising step toward precision medicine for bladder cancer. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and other grants.

This news matters because it addresses a critical unmet need in bladder cancer care: the ability to personalize treatment. If validated, these biomarkers could improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary toxicity, and lower healthcare costs by ensuring that the right patients receive the right therapy at the right time.

This news story relied on content distributed by InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN). Blockchain Registration, Verification & Enhancement provided by NewsRamp. The source URL for this press release is Immune Biomarkers May Predict Bladder Cancer Therapy Response.

The post Immune Biomarkers May Predict Bladder Cancer Therapy Response appeared first on citybuzz.