ADJUVANT THERAPY WITH 5-FLUORO-1-(2-TETRAHYDROFURYL)-2,4 (1H,3H)-PYRIMIDINEDIONE (UFT) AND BESTATIN IN PATIENTS WITH TRANSITIONAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BLADDER - COMPARISON BETWEEN UFT THERAPY ALONE AND UFT THERAPY IN COMBINATION WITH BESTATIN

To prevent postoperative recurrence a randomized prospective trial was performed on 45 patients with bladder cancers by dividing them into 2 groups given either UFT therapy alone or UFT therapy in combination w ith Bestatin. In principle, oral administration of these drugs was ini tiated 4 weeks postoperatively and continued for a period of 1 year. B estatin was given at the dose of 30 mg/day after breakfast per os, and UFT at the dose of 400 mg/day twice a day per os. After a median foll ow-up period of 628 days the relapse-free rate was 43.5% for the group given UFT alone and 81.8% for the group given a combination of UFT pl us Bestatin, showing a significantly more favorable result in the latt er group. In patients with a solitary and papillary tumor the relapse- free rate was significantly better in the UFT plus Bestatin group comp ared with the group of UFT alone. Accordingly, it was suggested that p ostoperative administration of UFT in combination with Bestatin is mor e effective in preventing recurrence of bladder cancer, compared with the administration of UFT alone,