Chemoimmune prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer

Chemoimmune prophylaxis with intravenous cyclophosphamide and intravesical as well as systemic bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment was begun after complete tumor resection in 90 patients with superficial urothelial bladder cancer. Compared to a historical patient control group treated by tumor resection alone a distinct decrease in the recurrence rate was noted in the immune treated group, which was most marked during the first 12 months postoperatively. The side effects of this treatment were tolerable. Our results are discussed with regard to the reported findings in the literature. Possible immune biological mechanisms of the tumor protection achieved by cyclophosphamide and bacillus Calmette-Guerin are suggested.