Combination radiotherapy of urinary bladder carcinoma with chemohyperthermia

The combination therapy of urinary bladder cancer with radiation and hyperthermia with bleomycin was investigated. Immediately following daily external irradiation (40 Gy/4 weeks), patients were irrigated with a solution of warmed saline (intravesical temperature, 42-43 degrees C) containing 30 micrograms/ml bleomycin. Of a total of 56 patients, complete responses were observed in 25, and partial responses in 21. Among T2-T3 cases, an 84% response rate was noted in combination therapy, whereas a 56% response rate was observed after radiation alone (50-70 Gy). The side-effects of the combination therapy were limited to reversible bladder irritation, and bladder capacity could be maintained within normal limits. These results suggest that combination therapy represents an effective conservative therapy for the management of bladder cancer.