A New Prognostic Instrument Specifically Designed for Patients Irradiated for Recurrent Carcinoma of the Bladder.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To develop an instrument that could estimate the 1-year survival probabilities of patients irradiated for recurrent carcinoma of the bladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients irradiated for locally recurrent bladder carcinoma were included. Six pre-treatment factors [age, gender, Karnofsky score (KPS), pack years, grading and time between cancer diagnosis and radiotherapy] were evaluated for survival. Of those factors showing a trend or significance on multivariate analysis, 1-year survival rates were added.

RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, KPS was significant (hazard ratio(HR)=3.76, p=0.008), age showed a trend (HR=2.04, p=0.13). Patient scores were five, nine, ten or fourteen points with 1-year survival rates of 13%, 25%, 57% and 82% (p=0.003). Three groups were designed, A (5-9 points), B (10 points) and C (14 points) with 1-year survival rates of 17%, 57% and 82% (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: This score, including three groups with different 1-year survival probabilities, can aid physicians treating patients with recurrent bladder carcinoma.