PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN SUPERFICIAL BLADDER-CANCER

A large body of evidence suggests that intravescial prophylaxis using vacilus Calmette-Guerin can favorably alter the natural history of sup erficial bladder cancer. The search for prognostic factors impacting t he clinical alternative between conservative and radical treatment has been the subject of numerous efforts and remains a major objective in improving the carcinological results and the quality of life patients with superficial bladder cancer. In this regard, information is avail able on three levels: clinicopathological parameters, quantitative ana lysis, and biological markers. Recent advances in as well as the limit ations and pitfalls of the use of three kinds of information in progno stication are reviewed. The proper use of prognostic factors will modi fy our attitude toward superficial bladder cancer in the near future.