PTU - Polskie Towarzystwo Urologiczne
list of articles:

Immunotherapy BCG of superficial bladder cancer - preliminary results of maintenance therapy
Article published in Urologia Polska 2001/54/2.

authors

Anna Kołodziej, Janusz Dembowski, Romuald Zdrojowy, Tomasz Szydełko, Paweł Kowal, Sławomir Paweł Woźniak, Michał Wróbel, Jerzy Lorenz
Katedra i Klinika Urologii AM we Wrocławiu Kierownik Kliniki: prof, dr hab. med. Jerzy Lorenz

keywords

bladder, superficial bladder cancers, immunotherapy BCG, prognostic factors, side effects

summary

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects and results of BCG therapy - maintenance scheme-in the treatment of high-risk superficial bladder cancer. Recurrence, progression, prognostic factors and side effects were analysed.
Materials and methods: A total of 155 high risk patients were enrolled in a randomised study of TUR alone (53 pts) or combined with intravesical BCG (102 pts) for superficial bladder cancer. BCG was administered for 6 consecutive weeks followed by 3 weekly instillations at months 3,6,12,18,24,30,36.
Results: After a median follow-up of 23 months (range 6-42) 83 of the 102 BCG treated patients (81,3%) were disease-free comparing to 24 of the 53 treated TUR alone patients (45,2%). A significant difference was also noted in tumour progression and time to progression between the two arms. Disease progressed in 8 patients (7,8%) with BCG and in 12 patients (22,6%) without BCG therapy. Independent risk factors for progression were DNA ploidy status and stage. Only the completion of the treatment was predictive of outcome (risk of recurrence) for patients treated with BCG.
Conclusion : Maintenance BCG therapy was superior to TUR alone for recurrence and progression prophylaxis in patients with high risk superficial bladder cancer.

references

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