[Intra-arterial chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer]

Between July 1993 and May 1999, 36 patients with invasive bladder cancer were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy using cisplatin and pirarubicin, and their treatment outcome was evaluated. Clinical CR was obtained in 18 patients, PR in 13, and NC in 5, for an overall response rate of 86%. The median follow-up for evaluating patients was 24 months (2-70 months). The bladder was preserved in 13 of 18 patients showing CR and in 4 of 13 patients showing PR. The 5-year cause-specific survival rate for the 36 patients was 56%. The grade factor did not effect the survival rate significantly. Compared with stage T2, stage T3 yielded a significantly poor prognosis, especially with grade 3. Intra-arterial chemotherapy was confirmed useful as a regional treatment, but not sufficient as a systemic treatment. Thus the selection of patients for this therapy was considered to require exact staging and assessment of the effectiveness.