[Adjuvant topical doxorubicin therapy in bladder cancer]

Thirty-four patients with tumors of the bladder were, after prior tumor surgery, treated with topical doxorubicin. Owing to undesired side effects, it was possible to adhere to the treatment regime in only 30 of the patients. Over an average observation period of 18 months, the number of recurrent lesions had diminished; the number of tumor-free patients at the time of evaluation was high. In view of these results, the question may be asked: could this form of treatment possibly be a suitable alternative to cystectomy, which has such a negative effect on the patient's quality of life? The answer can be given only on the basis of further prospective studies.