Objectives: To examine the effects of intravesical suramin on N-methyl-N-nitrosurea (MNU)-induced bladder tumors in Fischer 344 rats.
Methods: Multiple cohorts of female rats received four biweekly intravesical instillations of MNU. A control group received no other treatment, the experimental group received 25 mg/kg intravesical suramin twice a week beginning at week 6.
Results: After 18 weeks from the first instillation of MNU, 60% to 65% of control animals developed papillary transitional cell carcinoma, compared with only 0% to 10% of the suramin-treated animals (P = 0.01 to P = 0.0007). There was no local or systemic toxicity observed.
Conclusions: Intravesical suramin is an effective chemopreventative therapy for transitional cell carcinoma in vivo with minimal toxicity.