Treatment schedule of intravesical chemotherapy with mitomycin C in superficial bladder cancer: short-term courses or maintenance therapy.

Intravesical chemotherapy using mitomycin C in patients with superficial bladder cancer after transurethral resection (TUR) has proved to be highly effective in preventing tumor recurrences and/or progression. No consensus has been reached on the appropriate dose and treatment schedule. This and other variable factors such as different criteria for entry and follow-up in the reported studies so far make it impossible to compare the results. There are indications that long-term mitomycin C instillation therapy improves recurrence rate, progression rate, and survival. Considering prognostic factors in patients with superficial bladder tumors, it is justified and necessary to investigate this regimen in future protocols.