title: Intravesical gemcitabine in recurrent superficial bladder carcinoma: preliminary results on ablative efficacy and tolerability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ablative potential and toxicity of gemcitabine, administered intravesically in low stage and grade superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a history of recurrent Ta-T1, GI-G2 bladder TCC were considered eligible for the study. Gemcitabine was administered intravesically at 40 mg/mL concentration (2000 mg in 50 ml saline) in one weekly instillation for 4 consecutive weeks. Fifteen days after the last instillation, patients were submitted to transurethral resection (TUR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients were evaluable for toxicity, and 20 were evaluable for response, 6 patients being excluded due to toxicity. A complete response was achieved by 10 out of 20 patients (50%), whereas no response was documented in the remainder. Toxicity leading to treatment interruption was grade 3 in 1 patient and grade 2 in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravesical gemcitabine administered at 40 mg/mL showed the capability of ablating small volume, superficial TCC in 50% of the population under study, with acceptable tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Galliera Hospital, 14 Mura delle Cappuccine, 16128 Genoa, Italy. fabio.campodonico@galliera.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campodonico
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canepa
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capponi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bozzo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maffezzini
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine