[Prophylactic effect of inductive intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin on postoperative recurrence of bladder cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Intravesical instillation is an important adjuvant therapy on preventing postoperative recurrence of superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma, but the recurrence rate is still high. This study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of intravesical instillation of hydroxycamptothecin (HYD) plus bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on postoperative recurrence of bladder transitional cell cancer. METHODS A total of 45 bladder cancer patients who underwent TURBT or partial cystectomy were divided into two groups: 24 patients in combination group received single intravesical instillation of HYD in Week 1 after operation and regular intravesical instillation of BCG since Week 2; 21 patients in BCG group received regular intravesical instillation of BCG since Week 1 after operation. All the patients were followed up for 24 months. RESULTS Three patients had recurrence at 2, 10, and 12 months after operation individually in BCG group; no recurrence developed in combination group. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in BCG group than in combination group (14.28% vs. 0, P<0.05). No serious adverse events and complication developed in both groups. CONCLUSION Early use of single intravesical instillation of HYD plus subsequent regular intravesical instillation of BCG is markedly effective for preventing postoperative recurrence of bladder transitional cell cancer, with few adverse events.