Factors affecting survival in primary superficial bladder cancer.

In a retrospective study of 345 patients with primary superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, factors present at the time of initial evaluation and which affect survival were identified. All patients were treated initially by transurethral resection with separate resection of the tumor base and margin. 89 patients received no further treatment after resection of the tumor, 256 patients received adjuvant topical instillation therapy over a period of 6 weeks. The distribution of risk factors in both groups was comparable; the survival rate after 5 years showed no significant difference. The tumor-related mortality rate was 12.5%. The Cox regression model showed carcinoma in situ in the tumor margin and the absence of a tumor-associated tissue inflammatory reaction to be the most important risk factors. Beside these associated risk factors, poor differentiation of the tumor parameter was the most important prognostic factor.