Use of mitomycin as prophylaxis following endoscopic resection of superficial bladder cancer

A prospective controlled study evaluated the influence of long-term mitomycin instillation therapy on tumor recurrence, tumor progression rate, and patient survival after transurethral resection of superficial bladder tumors. In the mitomycin group, 11.1 per cent had recurrent tumors, and among the controls, 54.8 per cent had recurrent tumors during a mean follow-up of thirty-three and one-half and thirty-four and one-half months, respectively. The control group had 8 recurrent tumors of higher stage and 4 of higher grade, whereas all recurrent tumors in the mitomycin group that occurred in the bladder were either the same grade and the same stage (n = 1) or a lower stage and lower grade (n = 6). Side effects were minimal, with 72 per cent of the patients having no side effects. Chemical cystitis was the most common side effect, followed by generalized rash. No general toxic signs such as myelosuppression were seen.