title: Chemoimmunotherapy for prophylaxis of recurrence in superficial bladder cancer: interferon-alpha 2b versus interferon-alpha 2b with epirubicin.
abstract: Eighty-five patients who had undergone transurethral resection (TUR) of superficial bladder cancer were randomized to one of two treatments. Patients in Group 1 received a 10-month course of intravesical therapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha 2b (50 MU dose), commencing 21 days after TUR once a week for 8 weeks, then once every 15 days for 4 months and then finally once a month for 4 months. Patients in Group 2 received epirubicin (80 mg) intravesically 0, 24 and 48 h after TUR, and then 21 days after TUR received IFN-alpha 2b as for Group 1. The results confirmed the efficacy of immunoprophylaxis with IFN-alpha 2b, and early treatment with epirubicin tended to further reduce the percentage of relapses and extended the disease-free interval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castagnetti
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pollastri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015251:Epirubicin