Background
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is a commonly used treatment for non–muscle invasive bladder cancer to help reduce the risk of recurrence. However, not all patients respond equally well to this therapy. Identifying biological factors that predict response could help improve treatment effectiveness and guide more personalized care.

What the Study Proposes to Address
This project aimed to identify genetic and cellular factors that influence how bladder cancer cells take up BCG and whether these factors could help predict which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment.

Why This Research is Important
Better understanding why some patients respond to BCG while others do not could lead to improved patient selection and potentially new strategies to enhance treatment response. This work may ultimately support more personalized and effective bladder cancer care.

Final Report Summary
With support from this award, Dr. Redelman-Sidi investigated several oncogenic pathways involved in the uptake of BCG by bladder cancer cells. The study identified multiple proteins, including Pak1, Cdc42, and Rac1, as important contributors to this process. Dr. Redelman-Sidi plans to continue examining these pathways in vivo and to compare BCG uptake in tumor cells with clinical outcomes to better understand the treatment’s clinical significance.