[Prospective monocentric evaluation of bladder tumor targeting by Hexvix® fluorescence: preliminary results]

Purpose: Prospective evaluation of bladder tumor targeting by Hexvix(®) fluorescence.

Patient and methods: From September 2008 to September 2009, 28 patients have been evaluated using Hexvix(®) technique (blue light) for typically papillary bladder tumor or suspected bladder tumor. Clinical and pathological data have been collected and patients have been classified using EORTC score.

Results: From the 28 patients, 14 have been identified with bladder cancer (31 tumors) and 90 samples have shown positive fluorescence in blue light. Compared to white light, four additional tumors have been diagnosed by Hexvix(®) for three patients (p=NS): two cis, one LMP, one pTa low grade. The false positive rate for Hexvix(®) was 65.5 versus 58.5% for white light. EORTC score for bladder cancer was associated with better bladder cancer targeting by Hexvix(®) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In our experience, Hexvix(®) targeting was associated with better diagnosis for bladder cancer. Thirteen percent of new positive samples have been found for 10.7% of patients. In our study false positive rate is a critical point (65.5%). EORTC score for recurrence and progression might allow to select patients to be targeted by Hexvix(®).