Intravesical therapy: Influence on superficial bladder cancer progression

To review the influence of various intravesical treatments on superficial bladder cancer progression. We retrospectively reviewed 473 superficial bladder neoplasias. Based on diagnosis and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR BT), and depending on pathology, we proposed different treatment and follow-up schemes, with BCG in 139 cases and intravesical chemotherapy, mainly Mytomicin C, in 80. Overall, the use or not of bladder instillations did not show statistically significant differences in time to progression. The use of intravesical therapy and maintenance therapy was an independent risk factor for disease-free time to progression when compared with induction. The use of maintenance intravesical therapy with BCG resulted in a delayed progression of superficial bladder cancer, so that it seems the most effective treatment, mainly in moderate-high risk tumors.