BCG vaccine in superficial bladder tumors: eight years later

An evaluation of long-term results of BCG therapy for superficial bladder tumours is presented. In 12 patients treated with a curative aim, 41.7% complete regressions and 25% partial regressions were observed. Later on, 10 of these patients continued treatment with a prophylactic aim and 4 presented recurrences at 2, 3, 5 and 6 years, respectively. Another 29 patients were treated primarily with a prophylactic aim after TUR. On the whole, the percentage of patients with recurrences was 28% for the group a receiving instillations alone or combined with dermal scarifications, and 64% for the group receiving only dermal scarifications. Most of the recurrences occurred in patients with recurrent disease which failed to respond to other therapies, but even in this group the time to first recurrence was sharply prolonged and the rate of recurrences per 100 patients per month significantly diminished in patients treated intravesically, as single therapy or associated with dermal scarifications. Although side effects were usually of minor importance, 5 patients had severe complications, underscoring the necessity to find more appropriate treatment regimes in further trials.