title: Natural history, recurrence, and progression in superficial bladder cancer.
abstract: Superficial bladder cancer encompasses patients with stage Ta T1 tumors and patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). The natural history or treatment-related prognosis of these patients varies considerably from one patient to the next based on the patient's clinical and the tumor's pathological characteristics. Based on a review of the literature, the most important prognostic factors for recurrence are the prior recurrence rate, number of tumors, and tumor size; whereas for progression, the most important prognostic factors are the T category, grade, and presence of CIS. Treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin reduces both the risk of recurrence and the risk of progression, and is the treatment of choice in high-risk papillary tumors and in patients with CIS. Assessment of a patient's prognostic factors and his or her risk of recurrence and progression is a prerequisite for determining the most appropriate treatment and frequency of follow-up for a given patient.
authors.affiliation: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Data Center, Brussels, Belgium. richard.sylvester@eortc.be
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sylvester
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ; D015653:Cystectomy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine