Bladder cancer clinical guidelines panel summary report on the management of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (stages Ta, T1 and TIS). The American Urological Association.

PURPOSE

The American Urological Association convened the Bladder Cancer Clinical Guidelines Panel to analyze the literature regarding available methods of treating nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, and to make practice policy recommendations based primarily on treatment outcomes data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The panel searched the MEDLINE database for all articles related to nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer published from 1966 to January 1998. Outcomes data were extracted from articles accepted after panel review and meta-analyzed to produce comparative probability estimates for alternative treatments.

RESULTS

All of the intravesical agents (thiotepa, bacillus Calmette-Guerin, mitomycin C and doxorubicin) when used as adjuvant therapy after transurethral resection resulted in a lower probability of recurrence compared to resection alone. However, there is no evidence that intravesical therapy affects long-term progression.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with no prior intravesical therapy adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy is a treatment option after endoscopic removal of low grade Ta bladder cancers. Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin or mitomycin C is recommended for carcinoma in situ, and after endoscopic removal of T1 and high grade Ta tumors.