Abstract |
A prospective randomized trial on 94 eligible patients evaluated and compared the efficacy of adjuvant intravesical epirubicin and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) after complete resection of multifocal superficial bladder cancer. BCG treatment schedule consisted of an induction 6-week course of instillations (150 mg Pasteur BCG per instillation) and single maintenance doses to patients who remained free of recurrences at follow-up examinations for a total treatment period of 2 years. These initial responders received additionally a separate 4-week course of therapy 6 months after the start of treatment. Chemoprophylaxis included an early (on the second postoperative day) instillation followed by 4 weekly treatments with epirubicin (50 mg per instillation) and then by 10 monthly treatments for the initial responders during the first year of follow-up and at every follow-up examination for a total treatment period of 2 years. The overall treatment results did not differ significantly between the 2 arms (54% of patients of the epirubicin group remained free of recurrences compared to 65% of those treated with BCG) for an identical mean follow-up of 35.1 months. However, a significant benefit in favour of BCG when compared with epirubicin was shown in patients who had stage T1 and grade 3 tumours and in terms of relative risk of recurrences, disease-free interval and recurrence rate per 100 patient-months. Both drugs were proved to be safe with manageable toxicity.
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Authors | M D Melekos, I Zarakovitis, K Dandinis, E Fokaefs, H Chionis, H Dauaher, G Barbalias |
Journal | International urology and nephrology
(Int Urol Nephrol)
Vol. 28
Issue 4
Pg. 499-509
( 1996)
ISSN: 0301-1623 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 9119635
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
- BCG Vaccine
- Epirubicin
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Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
(therapeutic use)
- Administration, Intravesical
- Aged
- Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
(therapeutic use)
- BCG Vaccine
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Disease-Free Survival
- Epirubicin
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Humans
- Immunotherapy
- Male
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
(prevention & control)
- Prospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
(drug therapy, mortality, therapy)
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