Adriamycin instillations as recurrence prophylaxis in superficial urinary bladder cancer

Fourteen patients suffering from recurring superficial urinary bladder carcinoma were studied. 50 mg of adriamycin was instilled intravesically approximately once monthly over a period of more than 17 months. Recurrence index (RI) with adriamycin prophylaxis was statistically monthly significantly lower and per cystoscopy highly significantly lower than without prophylaxis. The recurrence rate (RR), as well as the mean annual recurrence rate (MARR) were similarly significantly lower with prophylaxis than without. The total response, an expression used earlier, was 86% following prophylactic instillation. 57% of the patients (8/14) suffered from bladder irritation and urinary tract infections occurred in three of them.