[Intra-arterial chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer]

A total of 83 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (T1, n = 5; T2, n = 28; T3a, n = 21; T3b, n = 21; T4, n = 8) were treated with intra-arterial (i.a.) cisplatin and adriamycin (or epirubicin) chemotherapy. In 51 of the 83 cases, we combined this treatment with radiotherapy. The pathological complete response (CR) rate was 68% for all patients, 84% for i.a. chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and only 41% for i.a. chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate was 57% for all patients, 71% for i.a. chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and only 44% for i.a. chemotherapy. The 5-year survival as a function of the clinical stage was 82% for T1 + T2, 66% for T3a, 28% for T3b, 25% for T4 (T1 + T2 vs: T3b: p < 0.001, T1 + T2 vs. T4: p < 0.0001, T3a vs. T3b: p < 0.0263, T3a vs. T4: p < 0.0214, T3b vs. T4: p < 0.029). In 46% of all patients, we succeeded in preserving the bladder; especially noteworthy, is that in 65% of the patients undergoing i.a. chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, we succeeded in preserving the bladder. These results demonstrate that i.a. chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is a useful method for locally advanced bladder cancer which may make preservation of the bladder function feasible.