Unexpected Transient Glioblastoma Regression in a Patient Previously Treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Therapy: A Case Report and Immunomodulatory Effects Hypothesis.
Gianluca ScaliaGianluca FeriniSalvatore MarroneMaurizio SalvatiVicky YamamotoBabak KatebReinhard SchulteStefano ForteGiuseppe Emmanuele Emmanuele UmanaPublished in: Journal of personalized medicine (2023)
(1) Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, has been used as an immunotherapeutic agent in bladder cancer and has shown non-specific beneficial effects. This report presents a unique case of GBM regression following BCG therapy for bladder cancer, suggesting the potential systemic immunomodulatory effects of BCG on GBM. (2) Case Presentation: A 67-year-old male with a history of bladder cancer treated with BCG presented with neurological symptoms. Imaging revealed two GBM lesions, and surgery was performed to remove one. Subsequently, the patient experienced complete tumor regression after initial stability. (3) Conclusions: This case highlights the potential of BCG or other immunotherapies in GBM treatment and underscores the need for further research. Understanding the immunomodulatory effects of BCG on GBM could lead to innovative therapies for this devastating disease; although, overcoming the immune evasion mechanisms in the brain is a significant challenge. Further investigation is warranted to explore this promising avenue of research.
Keyphrases
- poor prognosis
- case report
- muscle invasive bladder cancer
- long non coding rna
- minimally invasive
- high resolution
- cerebral ischemia
- multiple sclerosis
- resting state
- white matter
- coronary artery bypass
- mesenchymal stem cells
- human health
- functional connectivity
- cell therapy
- bacillus subtilis
- brain injury
- smoking cessation