[Intravesical chemotherapy of (2''R)-4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin in bladder tumor].

The effect of (2"R)-4'-0-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP), a derivative of adriamycin (ADM) on bladder tumors was evaluated by intravesical instillation. Twenty-one patients with bladder tumors were treated with THP instillation into the bladder. THP (20-30 mg dissolved in 20-40 ml of distilled water) was instilled into the bladder daily for 3 consecutive days as a course. The patients received 2 to 5 courses in total. Of 21 patients, 4 showed complete disappearance of the bladder tumors, while partial response (50% tumor reduction) was observed in 6 cases. Therefore, the overall response rate was 48%. However, with regard to the 16 patients with superficial bladder tumors (Ta, T1) an overall response rate of 63% was noted. The main side effect of THP instillation was temporary bladder irritability, which was seen in 57% of all the patients. No cases revealed systemic side effects. The same antitumor effect was obtained at a lower concentration of THP in the intravesical chemotherapy, compared with that of ADM. It was concluded that THP is a useful drug for the intravesical chemotherapy of bladder tumors.