[Radiotherapy as the definitive treatment of patients with carcinoma of the bladder]

Sixty-one patients, who refused surgery or whose overall medical status advised against radical cystectomy, were submitted to radical radiotherapy at the Oncology Radiotherapy Service of the General Hospital of Asturias. Irradiation was performed in a cobalt therapy unit. Radiation dose ranged from 50-70 Gy, with a daily dose of 190-200 cGy. Local control was achieved in 71% for stage A, 68% for B1. 17% for B2, and 0% for stage C. Disease-free survival was 63% for stage A, 48% for B1, 14% for B2, 0% for C, and 17% for D1. Overall disease-free survival was 20%, and the morbidity and mortality rates were 11.4% and 3.2%, respectively. In view of the poor results achieved in our setting, we have considered using combined external and interstitial radiation for tumors localized in the muscle layer, and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage C tumors (or those infiltrating perivesical fat).