Methods for treating bladder cancer

A method for determining treatment for bladder cancer, comprising

• a) providing bladder cells from a subject with bladder cancer;
• b) culturing a portion of the cells with IFNγ and separately culturing a portion of the cells with IFNγ and TNFα, each culture maintained for a period of time sufficient to induce expression of interleukin 18 binding protein (IL-18 BP) and/or IL-18 by the cells;
• c) determining expression level of IL-18 BP and uroplakin 1B by the cells cultured in b);
• d) determining the ratio of expression level of IL-18 BP to uroplakin 1b for cells cultured with IFNγ (IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ) and for cells cultured with IFNγ and TNFα (IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ+TNFα);
• and
• e) determining the (IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ):(IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ+TNFα) ratio, wherein a (IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ):(IL-18BP:uroplakin 1b IFNγ+TNFα) ratio of about 0.2 or greater indicates that the subject should receive therapy comprising an effective amount of at least one of interleukin 18 (IL-18), an inhibitor of IL-18 BP, an antagonist of an activator of IL-18 BP, and an agonist of a down-regulator of IL-18 BP or a non-BCG therapy.

A method for determining treatment for bladder cancer, comprising

• a) providing bladder cells from a subject with bladder cancer;
• b) culturing at least a portion of the cells with IFNγ and/or culturing at least a portion of the cells with IFNγ and TNFα, each culture maintained for a period of time sufficient to induce expression of interleukin 18 binding protein (IL-18 BP) and/or IL-18 by the cells;
• c) determining expression level of IL-18 BP and a gene product selected from the group consisting of i) a gene product that is expressed in urothelium and preferably not in other bladder cells, ii) a gene product for which the levels do not change when bladder cells are exposed to IFNγ, and iii) a gene product that is decreased in bladder cancer patients who do not respond to BCG therapy or who experience recurrence following BCG therapy by the cells cultured in b);
• and
• d) determining the ratio of expression level of IL-18 BP to the gene product wherein a ratio indicative of a level of IL-18BP that is expected to interfere with BCG or IFNγ therapy indicates that the subject should receive therapy comprising an effective amount of at least one of interleukin 18 (IL-18), an inhibitor of IL-18 BP, an antagonist of an activator of IL-18 BP, and an agonist of a down-regulator of IL-18 BP or a non-BCG therapy.