Intravesical gemcitabine in recurrent superficial bladder carcinoma: preliminary results on ablative efficacy and tolerability.
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.
Campodonico
Fabio
F
Department of Urology, Galliera Hospital, 14 Mura delle Cappuccine, 16128 Genoa, Italy. fabio.campodonico@galliera.it
Canepa
Giorgio
G
Capponi
Giacomo
G
Bozzo
Luigi
L
Maffezzini
Massimo
M
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
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine