Superficial bladder cancer treated by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin or adriamycin: Multicenter study interim report

One hundred sixteen patients with superficial bladder cancers (Stages Ta, T1, and TIS) were evaluated and treated with either intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin [Tice strain] (BCG) or doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin [ADR]), in a multicenter study. One hundred nine of these patients currently have follow-up. Of these, 54 were completely resected and 55 incompletely resected. For complete resections, based on recurrence rates per 100 patient months, both BCG (0.22) and ADR (0.91) worked well, although BCG had a slightly lower recurrence rate. However, for incomplete resections, BCG (0.20) had a markedly lower recurrence rate than ADR (2.52). Eighteen patients failed initial treatment, with either BCG or ADR. All have been placed on long-term therapy schedules. Of the 12 failures who currently have follow-up,11 (92 %) have either partially or completely responded with additional intravesical therapy. No patients in this study have yet required cystectomies.