TUR and adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy in T1G3 bladder tumors: recurrence, progression and survival in 137 selected patients followed up to 20 years.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a highly selected population of patients affected by T1G3 bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCCB) treated by transurethral resection (TUR) and adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy.


METHODS
Between January 1976 and April 1999, 137 patients with T1G3 TCCB were treated by TUR plus intravesical chemotherapy. Particularly, a sequential combination of mitomycin C (MMC) and epirubicin (EPI) was adopted in 91 patients (66.4%). The main exclusion criteria were concomitant or previous Tis, previous T1G3 TCCB, tumor size greater than 3 centimeters and number of tumors more than 3. TUR was repeated if a superficial tumor recurred. Patients went off study if Tis, recurrent T1G3 or invasive tumor were detected during treatment or thereafter. Adjuvant therapy, recurrence and progression were considered in multivariate analysis regarding recurrence, progression and survival respectively.


RESULTS
Observation period was up to 240 months with a minimum of 2 years in 112 patients (82%). Seventy patients (51%) recurred. The recurring tumor was again a T1G3 in 22 (16%) patients. Thirteen patients (9.5%) progressed. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 90%. Median progression-free survival was 149 months. Twenty-two patients (16%) died, 9 (6.6%) of whom due to bladder cancer. Median overall survival was 155 months. The 3- and 5-year disease-free overall survival rates were 89% and 80% respectively. Ten cystectomies (7.3%) were performed. In conclusion, 123 patients (90%) maintained their intact bladder with a mean disease-free overall survival of 104 months. The sequential combination of MMC and EPI adjuvant therapy resulted more effective to be than single drug chemotherapy on recurrence rate (p=0.0021) but had no impact upon progression (p=0.127) and specific survival (p=0.163). Progression (p<0.001) after conservative treatment was the main prognostic factor for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
A conservative approach is an appropriate therapeutic option for the initial management of selected T1G3 bladder tumors.
Serretta
Vincenzo
V
Section of Urology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephro-Urological Diseases, University of Palermo, Via Malaspina 136, 90145 Palermo, Italy. vserretta@libero.it
Pavone
Carlo
C
Ingargiola
Giovan Battista
GB
Daricello
Giuseppe
G
Allegro
Rosalinda
R
Pavone-Macaluso
Michele
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods