Mycobacterium Brumae Extract Fractions with Potential Immunotherapeutic Activity for Bladder Cancer

Objective: Immunotherapy with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) application is a gold standard treatment for high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), despite its local and systemic side effects. We aimed to develop less toxic and more powerful therapeutic agents for the treatment of bladder cancer than live strain.\udMaterials and Methods: Immunostimulated and non-pathogenic Mycobacterium brumae strains resembling BCG with cytotoxic activities were used. The bacteria were sonicated after heat treatment. Samples prepared by aqueous solution and acetone were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography on reverse phase and strong ion exchange columns. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) stimulating activities and the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectroscopy findings of the samples were analysed.\udResults: As a result, it was revealed that two components, m/z ratios around 1800 and another around m/z 3600 could be responsible for TNF-α stimulating activity.\udConclusion: These components have a potential to develop of new agents for NMIBC treatment