Invasive bladder cancer: a single-institution experience with bladder-sparing approach

Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of a selective bladder-preserving approach by transurethral resection and sequential chemoradiotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. From 1989 through 1997, 40 patients with biopsy-confirmed bladder cancer, clinical stages T2-4NxM0, were treated with induction by aggressive transurethral resection (TUR) and three cycles of methotrexate, cisplatin, and vinblastine (MCV) chemotherapy. Tumor response was evaluated by cystoscopy and biopsy. In complete responders, the treatment was continued by radiotherapy (60 Gy to the bladder and 50 Gy to pelvic lymph nodes). Radical cystectomy was recommended to patients with residual tumor. Clinical complete response rate to TUR and MCV chemotherapy was 70%. The 4-year actuarial overall survival rate for the whole series was 80.5%. Among 36 patients who completed chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the 4-year actuarial survival was 84%, with 82.6% surviving with their bladders intact. Freedom from local failure in complete responders to TUR-chemotherapy was 84%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the extent of initial TUR and status after TUR-chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors associated with survival and disease-free survival. This study confirms that the combination of aggressive TUR and sequential chemoradiotherapy with bladder preservation is an alternative treatment option to primary cystectomy for selected patients with invasive bladder carcinoma.