Significance of the preoperative intravesical instillation of doxorubicin and the oral administration of 5-fluorouracil in preventing recurrence after a transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer. Kyushu University Urological Oncology Group.

BACKGROUND

The postoperative intravesical instillation of doxorubicin (ADM) has a preventative effect on recurrence after a transurethral resection (TUR) of superficial bladder cancer. However, the significance of preoperative ADM instillation remains unclear. Although the oral administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been observed to show some clinical response against bladder cancer, its preventative effect on the recurrence of superficial bladder cancer after TUR is unknown.

METHODS

Patients were randomized into 4 groups. All 4 groups received postoperative ADM instillation. In addition, patients in groups C and D received preoperative ADM instillation, whereas patients in groups B and D additionally received oral 5-FU postoperatively. The nonrecurrence rate and side effects were both compared among the 4 groups.

RESULTS

Of the 282 patients registered, 200 were evaluable, with a median follow-up period of 21.4 months. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of the patients among the 4 groups. Group C (pre- and postoperative ADM) showed a significantly longer disease-free interval than group A (postoperative ADM alone). However, there was no significant difference in the disease-free interval between groups A and B (postoperative ADM plus 5-FU), or between groups C and D (pre- and postoperative ADM plus 5-FU). Bladder irritation symptoms were the most frequently noted side effect encountered in all groups, but the severity was generally mild.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative ADM instillation was found to prevent recurrence to a greater extent than the usual postoperative instillation alone, whereas oral 5-FU was found to have no additional beneficial effect on the disease-free interval in patients with superficial bladder cancer.