We thank Dr. Herr for his thoughtful comments and for highlighting the historical and clinical relevance of immune priming to enhance intravesical BCG efficacy in non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We fully agree that early observations linking purified protein derivative (PPD) reactivity and better outcomes after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy provided the first clinical evidence that pre-existing mycobacterial immunity can modulate therapeutic responses [1–6].
European Urology published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 23 Jan 2026.
The item focuses on Reply to the Harry Herr’s Letter to the Editor re: Oscar Buisan, Pol Servian, Sonia Pedreño-Lopez, et al.
A Novel Heterologous Prime-boost Strategy Using RUTI Vaccine to Improve the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Response in Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Patients: Phase 1 RUTIVAC-1 Trial.
Eur Urol.
In press.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2025.08.014.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.