[Intravesical BCG therapy in patients with recurrent superficial bladder tumors]

Intravesical instillation of BCG has recently become a treatment for superficial bladder tumor, and favorable results are reported. We have also obtained favorable results by performing intravesical BCG therapy to totally 32 cases of superficial recurrent bladder tumor and carcinoma in situ (CIS) one indicated for total cystectomy. The subjects were 29 cases of Ta and T1 and 4 cases of Tis, which are classified into 27 cases for treatment and 5 cases for prevention of recurrence after TUR. As the method for administration, 120 or 80 mg of BCG was dissolved in physiological saline and infused intravesically every week a total of 8 times. As a result of designating the patients who received the treatment more than 4 times as the subject, CR and PR were 19 cases (73%) and 5 cases (19%), or respectively, out of 26 assessable cases, and effective rate including PR was 93%. No recurrence has been observed so far in any of 5 cases treated for prevention of recurrence. Side effects which required treatment were observed in 13 cases (41%), but treatment could be continued by symptomatic therapy in most of the cases. Treatment was discontinued in 4 cases, 3 of which were hepatic disorders. It is considered that intravesical instillation of BCG is a therapeutic procedure which is good for trial in future in the light of the great efficacy obtained in the present study.