Absorption of doxorubicin hydrochloride during bladder washings in treatment of noninvasive bladder tumors.

The absorption of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) in or through the urothelium has been determined as the difference between the instilled amount and the amount recovered after complete drainage of the bladder in 9 patients suffering from superficial urinary bladder tumors (grade I-II). A total of 22 absorption experiments were done. The relative deficit was found to be between 0 and 16 per cent (median 4 per cent). One of the reasons for the variations in the relative deficit was probably intravesical bleedings. One hundred seventy-two mumol. (100 mg.) doxorubicin was dissolved in 100 ml. isotonic saline, and the instilled liquid was retained in the bladder for one hour. No patient showed any sign of systemic side effects caused by doxorubicin. The results seem to indicate that it is possible to use a dose for intravesical instillation which is five times as high as the maximum dose for intravenous administration.