Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation with gemcitabine after first-line intravesical chemotherapy failure, including mitomycin (MMC), epirubicin (EPB) and camptothecin (CPT), in the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
Methods: From June 2007 to October 2008, 72 patients with NMIBC, who had tumor recurrence within one year of first-line intravesical chemotherapy, were assigned to 3 groups (24 cases each). Group A received intravesical gemcitabine in a dose of 1000 mg, Group B received 2000 mg gemcitabine, and Group C received original intravesical chemotherapy. The time of reccurrence and adverse effects were recorded.
Results: The 2-year tumor free survival rates of the 3 groups were 66.7%, 75.0% and 45.8%, respectively. The 2-year TFS rate of the patients who received gemcitabine was 70.8%, significantly higher than 45.8% of the patients treated by original chemotherapy. There was one case with renal function impairement in the groups A and B, respectively. There was no significant difference between the rates of low urinary tract symptoms in the 3 groups. No severe hematological side effects were observed in this study.
Conclusion: The intravescal chemotherapy with gemcitabine in patients with recurrent bladder tumor after first-line intravesical chemotherapy is effective and well tolerated, however, renal function should be routinely assessed.