Subsequent Tumor Analysis of 36 Patients Who Have Received Intravesical Mitomycin C for Superficial Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Patients (36) with stages O and A (Tis, Ta and T1) bladder cancer who had received 8 weekly doses of 30 or 40 mg mitomycin C as definitive therapy. Of this group 16 had failed thiotepa therapy and 13 had grade III tumors (6 multifocal carcinoma in situ). The complete response rate at 12 wk was 45% (negative biopsy and cytology), while an additional 33% had a partial response. Response did not correlate with tumor grade or stage. Patients who had failed thiotepa therapy were less likely to have a complete response, although the overall response rate was identical to patients who had either not received prior chemotherapy or were not clear thiotepa failures. Followup of these patients indicates that the complete responders were benefited by this regimen since the subsequent recurrence rate was reduced when compared prior to initiation of mitomycin C. Most of these patients received monthly maintenance therapy.