Intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy for carcinoma in situ of the bladder: a longer followup result.

A total of 43 patients with carcinoma in situ of the bladder (primary in 26 and secondary in 17) who underwent intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy for 2 multicenter studies were followed for a median period of 45 months (range 10 to 84). Of the patients 32 (74%) achieved complete response after induction therapy and underwent maintenance therapy with either mitomycin C plus doxorubicin, mitomycin C alone or observation only. Of the complete responders 13 (41%) had a local recurrence, and subsequent repeat intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy as well as bacillus Calmette-Guerin was effective in a significant proportion (75% or greater). The maintenance therapy did not have a favorable effect on the recurrence rate. In 8 patients (19%) (3 of 32 complete responders and 5 of 11 nonresponders) progression developed, including invasive cancers in 4, metastatic disease in 2 and both conditions in 2. Initial complete responders had a significantly higher progression-free rate than initial nonresponders, although there was no difference in the sites of progression between them. At the last followup 35 patients (81%) remained free of disease with 31 (72%) having a normally functioning bladder. According to these results, intravesical mitomycin C and doxorubicin sequential therapy appears to be applicable as initial treatment for carcinoma in situ of the bladder.