The curability if invasive bladder cancer treated by radical cystectomy

174 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were treated by radical cystoprostatectomy, with or without adjunctive radiation therapy, and followed for at least 5 years or until death. Survivorship relates to both grade and stage of disease at the time of treatment. Adjunctive radiotherapy improved survival in patients with extensive bladder wall and extravesical involvement in this series. Best results were achieved in patients with a low pathologic stage of disease, poorest results--predictably--with high stage, high grade tumors.