An overview of the treatment of superficial bladder cancer - Intravesical chemotherapy

Superficial bladder cancer accounts for approximately 70% to 80% of all new ly diagnosed bladder cancers. The vast majority of these cancers are transi tional bladder tumors of various histologic grades (I to III). Superficial tumors include carcinoma in situ (CIS), tumors confined to the epithelium ( Ta), and superficial tumors that invade the lamina propria (T1) but do not involve superficial muscle layers. The primary treatment for eradication of stage Ta and T1 bladder cancers is transurethral resection of the tumor. M any patients with superficial bladder tumors treated with endoscopic surger y alone have recurrence or tumor progression at some point in their follow- up, and, in these patients, the need for adjuvant treatment becomes a major concern.