Early intravesical instillation of adriamycin with oral administration of 5-fluorouracil after transurethral resection for superficial bladder cancer: preliminary results.

In all, 199 patients were entered in this study by 21 collaborating hospitals. Patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were randomized postoperatively into four groups. Group A received early (immediately and 2 days after transurethral resection) instillation of adriamycin (30 mg/30 mg); group B received early instillation of adriamycin with oral administration of 5-fluorouracil (200 mg/day); group C received delayed (7 days after transurethral resection) instillation of adriamycin (30 mg/30 ml); and group D received delayed instillation of adriamycin with oral administration of 5-fluorouracil (200 mg/day). All patients subsequently received instillations weekly for 2 more weeks, and then every 2 weeks for a further 14 weeks. After 4 months, they received one instillation per month for 8 months. 5-Fluorouracil was administered p.o. for 1 year. The postoperative follow-up period was 12 months. After 3 and 6 months there were significant differences in the non-recurrence rates between groups B and C. After 12 months the overall non-recurrence rates were 87.9% in group A, 83.5% in group B, 89.2% in group C, and 82.8% in group D, and there were no significant differences among the four groups. The number of patients entered and the follow-up period are not adequate for firm conclusions, and further studies are necessary. The main side effect was bladder irritation, which was observed in 38.8% of patients in the early instillation groups and in 26.3% of those in the delayed instillation groups. No severe systemic side effects were observed in this study.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes