The historical development of the staging of bladder tumors: personal reminiscences.

Since 1943 we have attempted to stage infiltrating tumors of the bladder. This original grouping required minor revisions as time went on in order to furnish information of prognostic value. The original classification of tumors into A, B1, B2, and C, widely used in the United States and abroad, was improved by Marshall's addition fo O and D, and especially by its conversion into the Tumor Nodes and Metastasis (TNM) System. This latter now appears to be standard for the western World. It is disappointing that the surgical results are not better for the superficial group, even after external radiotherapy. Most probably a markedly improved success rate will depend on new anticancer agents.