Thermochemotherapy in adjuvant treatment of primary high risk non muscle invasive bladder cancers: Single center results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of Thermochemotherapy in adjuvant treatment of primary high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in our center.

METHODS: The study included 26 patients with an age of 51-78 years (mean: 62.4 years). All patients had transurethral tumor resection (TURB) after being diagnosed with a primary bladder tumor and were pathologically diagnosed with non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma. Thermochemotherapy (TCT) applications were performed via the Synergo® system SB-TS 101.

RESULTS: Of the study participants, 13 patients had T1 Grade III, six patients had T1Grade III CIS (+), four patients had Ta Grade III, and three patients Ta Grade II multiple > 5 cm tumor. In all patients, six weeks plus six months protocol were completed. All patients completed the follow-up protocol. With a median follow-up time of 16.4 months (range: 6 - 48 months), recurrent urothelial carcinoma was identified in three patients. With a median follow-up time of 16.4 months, the recurrence-free survival was 88.4% in 26 patients included in the study.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained data suggest that the TCT method can be used effectively and safely in non-muscle invasive bladder cancers of primary high-risk. Prospective randomized studies will shed light on this subject which are BCG vs TCT in primary high risk patients and second course BCG vs TCT in the BCG insufficient patients.