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


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.
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery
D016685:Mitomycin; D008942:Mitoxantrone