Intravesical instillation therapy for high-risk non-muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: Does the strain of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) matter?

After completed transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT), patients diagnosed with high-risk non-muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, which qualify for a maintenance BCG therapy, are prospectively included in the trial. Patients are randomized into 2 groups: One group will use the strain BCG-Connaught (dose 1.5-5x10E8 CFU, intravesical), the other group the strain BCG-Tice (dose 5x10E8 CFU, intravesical) for the bladder instillation. Within 2 weeks after the TURBT the BCG instillation therapy is begun. A total of 6 bladder instillations are performed in weekly intervals. For the bladder instillation BCG is injected into the bladder by a single use urethral catheter. Intravesical therapy duration is 2 hours. Regular follow-up controls with cystoscopy and urine cytology are performed every 3 months during the first 3 years and then every 6 months until at least 5 years postoperatively.