Age and outcome of superficial bladder cancer treated with bacille Calmette-Guérin therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of age on the outcomes of high-risk superficial bladder cancer treated with intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy.


METHODS
A total of 805 patients with multiple or recurrent high-grade Ta, T1, and/or carcinoma in situ bladder cancer received BCG therapy. The endpoints were the initial response to BCG and cancer-free survival correlated with age among patients followed up for a minimum of 2 to 5 years.


RESULTS
No difference was observed in the first response to BCG or cancer-free survival at 2 years among patients less than 50, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, or 80 years or older. After 5 years, 27% of patients older than 70 years were cancer free compared with 37% younger than 70 years (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study have shown that aging has a measurable, but small, impact on the overall outcomes of high-risk superficial bladder cancer.
Herr
Harry W
HW
Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. herrh@mskcc.org
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine