title: Treatment of BCG failures with intravesical BCG/Interferon: the University of Montreal experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has shown promise in large scale studies. We assessed recurrence-free survival in patients treated with intravesical BCG/Interferon (IFN) for non-muscle invasive, BCG refractory, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder at our local institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cancer control data were gathered for patients enrolled in a BCG/Interferon protocol at the University of Montreal. The main inclusion criteria consisted of pathologically proven evidence of intravesical BCG failure, and of complete transurethral resection of latest post BCG recurrence. Induction consisted of eight intravesical BCG/Interferon instillations. Select patients were treated with BCG/Interferon maintenance therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients aged from 45 to 81 years (mean: 65) were included. Stages at TCC diagnosis were distributed as follows: 6 (46%) CIS, 3 (23%) Ta, and 4 (31%) T1. Induction BCG consisted of an average of 11 weekly instillations (range 3-24). Prior to BCG/Interferon stage distribution was as follows: 9 (69%) CIS, and 4 (31%) T1. BCG/Interferon maintenance was administered to 5 (38%) patients. Follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 32 months (mean=15, median=12). Recurrence was diagnosed in 5 patients (38%). Recurrence free survival (RFS) at 24 months was 66%. When stratified according to T stage prior to BCG/IFN, patients with CIS fared worse than T1 patients (50% versus 100%). Maintenance had no effect on RFS (75% versus 69%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results corroborate previous BCG/IFN reports. In selected patients, intravesical BCG/IFN offers a valid alternative to definitive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal Health Center, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Karakiewicz
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benayoun
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lewinshtein
authors.forename: Felix K-H
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shahrour
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perrotte
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007372:Interferons