[Initial results of intra-arterial chemotherapy for poorly differentiated bladder transitional cell carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Bladder cancer is the most common disease among urogenital tumors, and poorly differentiated bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) tends to recur, progress, and metastasize. This paper was to report our experiences in intra-arterial chemotherapy as adjuvant and palliative therapy for poorly differentiated BTCC.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with BTCC of grade 3 were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy of GC regimen (gemcitabine plus cisplatin). Among them, 21 had post-operative adjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy for 3 cycles, 3 advanced cases had palliative intra-arterial chemotherapy for 6 cycles.

RESULTS

All patients were followed-up for 6-20 months. The mean follow-up was 12 months for 21 patients received adjuvant treatment, 1 developed pelvic metastasis, the others survived without evidenced tumors. Of 3 advanced cases, 1 with CR survived disease-freely for 8 months; 1 with PR survived progression-freely for 6 months; 1 with PR died of tumor relapse 13 months after chemotherapy. No serious complication was observed after intra-arterial chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-arterial chemotherapy is effective in managing poorly differentiated BTCC.