Intravesical Gemcitabine and Docetaxel Therapy for BCG-Naïve Patients: A Promising Approach to Non-Muscle Invasive...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has limitations in efficacy and tolerability, compounded by global shortages.
• High-risk NMIBC (HR NMIBC) requires effective alternative treatments, especially for patients who are BCG-naïve.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) as a first-line treatment for BCG-naïve patients with HR NMIBC.

Main Methods:

• A prospective clinical study enrolled 52 BCG-naïve HR NMIBC patients.
• Patients received sequential intravesical Gem/Doce therapy.
• Follow-up assessments were conducted every 3 months for up to one year.

Main Results:

• The study included patients with high-grade T1 (T1HG) bladder cancer, carcinoma in situ (CIS), or a combination.
• Median time to first recurrence varied by diagnosis (T1HG: 11 months, CIS: 10.5 months, T1HG+CIS: 8.8 months).
• Recurrence-free survival at 12 months was 80.8%, and progression-free survival at 12 months was 92.3%.

Conclusions:

• Gem/Doce therapy demonstrates safety and efficacy in BCG-naïve HR NMIBC patients.
• The treatment shows favorable recurrence-free and progression-free survival rates within a one-year follow-up.
• Further research with longer follow-up and comparative studies is warranted.