Combined modality therapy following bladder conservation surgery for bladder cancers.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the efficacy of recurrence prophylaxis using radiation and chemotherapy following bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer.


METHODS
23 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer were treated with radiotherapy combined with bladder mitomycin infusion after bladder conservation surgery (study group). Radiotherapy was given using an external beam at an average dose of 5148 +/- 462 cGy with conventional fractionation. For comparison, 29 similar patients treated with postoperative bladder mitomycin infusion without radiation served as control (control group). All patients were followed up for more than 3 years, an average of 41.6 months (36 - 60 months).


RESULTS
The 3-year pelvic recurrent rate of muscle invasive bladder cancer was 17.4% in the study group and 44.8% (P = 0.036) in the control group. The 3-year distant metastasis rates were 17.4% and 24.1%, respectively (P = 0.554). The 3-year overall survival rates were 81.8% and 86.2%, respectively (P = 0.670). Two patients from the study group had their treatment interrupted, one for 3 days and the other for one week due to acute cystitis, while the rest of the patients were able to complete the treatment according to schedule.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy plus chemotherapy after bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer can decrease the rate of pelvic recurrence effectively and be used as a realistic adjuvant treatment.
Sun
Xiaonan
X
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China. sunxiaonan@hotmail.com
Hu
Jianbin
J
Yang
Qichu
Q
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015996:Survival Rate; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*