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NCI Drug Dictionary


BCG vaccine 
A vaccine containing bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, with non-specific immunoadjuvant and immunotherapeutic activities. Although the mechanism of its anti-tumor activity is unclear, immunization with BCG vaccine likely activates a Th1 cytokine response that includes the induction of interferon. Vaccination with BCG vaccine may be immunoprotective against infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Synonym:bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine