Up-front intravesical chemotherapy for low stage, low grade recurrent bladder cancer.

PURPOSE

We evaluated the ablative and prophylactic potential of short schedule, up-front topical chemotherapy on low stage and grade recurrent bladder tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study design consisted of 4 weekly instillations followed by transurethral resection during week 5. Mitomycin C was administered initially and mitoxantrone was administered following the same schedule if disease recurred during followup.

RESULTS

After up-front mitomycin C, 29 of 42 patients (69%) had a complete response with no need for transurethral resection, whereas residual disease was resected in the remaining 13 (31%). Disease recurred during followup in 22 of the 42 patients (52.4%), who were then treated with up-front mitoxantrone with a complete response in 14 (63.7%). Residual disease was resected in 8 patients (36.3%) with progression to grade 3 in 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Short schedule intravesical chemotherapy can completely ablate small volume recurrent superficial bladder cancer in a relevant number of patients but it is not adequate prophylaxis.