RECURRENCES AND PROGRESSION OF SUPERFICIAL BLADDER-CANCER FOLLOWING LONG-TERM INTRAVESICAL PROPHYLACTIC THERAPY WITH MITOMYCIN-C - 48-MONTHFOLLOW-UP

A total of 208 patients with superficial transitional-cell carcinoma o f the bladder (STCC) after transurethral resection were treated with 3 0 mg intravesical instillations of mitomycin C (MMC) weekly for 8 week s, followed by monthly maintenance doses for 12 months. All patients w ere controlled with a urinary cytological examination every 2 months a nd with cystoscopy every 3 months, Mean follow-up was 47.8 and 49.3 mo nths in the prophylaxis and control groups, respectively, The incidenc e of tumor recurrences at the 12th and 48th months was 29 and 44%, res pectively, in the MMC group and 45 and 58%, respectively, in the contr ol group. Progression evaluated by grade and stage was significantly h igher in the control group. These data indicate that MMC appears to be effective in the prophylaxis of STCC, but the possibility of longterm relapse suggests maintenance of a longer therapy.