REASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT FOR STAGE T1N0M0 TRANSITIONAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BLADDER

Purpose: We evaluated the outcome of stage T1 transitional cell carcin oma of the bladder treated with local tumor resection and intravesical therapies. Materials and Methods: Of 42 patients with stage T1 bladde r cancer seen at our clinic during a 10-year period 38 were treated co nservatively with local tumor resection, intravesical therapy and long -term followup. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was used as the primary intravesical agent since 1986. Results: Of the 38 patients 15 had ini tial grade 2 or 2 to 3 tumors, including 9 (60%) who bad at least 1 or more local recurrences but without disease progression. The remaining 23 patients had grade 3 or grades 3 to 4 stage T1 tumors, with local recurrence in 17 (74%) and disease progression in 8 (35%). Furthermore , 5 patients (22%) died of the metastasis despite salvage therapies. C onclusions: For patients with initial grade 2 or grades 2 to 3, stage T1 disease the risk of disease progression is low. Current management with local tumor resection and intravesical BCG is appropriate and sho uld be continued. Patients with high grade, stage T1 disease are at pa rticularly high risk for disease progression and BCG does not seem to decrease this risk effectively. Therefore, immediate cystectomy is app ropriate and should be recommended.