Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin or Mitomycin C in the Treatment of Carcinoma in situ of the Bladder following Prior Pelvic Radiation Therapy

Abstract

A total of 20 patients received intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or mitomycin C for the treatment of carcinoma in situ following previous pelvic radiation therapy. Of the patients 14 (70%) responded completely after 1 or 2 courses of intravesical therapy. Mean followup from diagnosis of carcinoma in situ currently is 15.7 months. Complications of BCG and mitomycin C therapy were compared to the established complications of intravesical therapy with these agents. The incidences of fever greater than 103F, hematuria and bladder contracture were increased in patients receiving BCG following radiation therapy, although the cause of bladder contracture was probably multifactorial in our patient population. Our data suggest that BCG and mitomycin C are safe and biologically effective agents for the intravesical treatment of carcinoma in situ after pelvic radiation therapy.