Topical therapy of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is based on immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and chemotherapy administered by passive instillation, but an active drug administration achieves a better concentration of the drugs in the bladder.
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of electromotive drug administration (EMDA) of mitomycin C (EMDA/MMC) in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients 6 months after the end of induction treatment.
Sixty-five patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed NMIBC, with a complete transurethral resection of all visible tumors underwent EMDA/MMC. Primary endpoint was the proportion of responders at 3 or 6 months.
Data on follow-up were available for 62 subjects at 3 months and 45 at 6 months. EMDA was effective in intermediate- and high-risk patients: because of the small number of cases no conclusions can be drawn on the efficacy in the low-risk group. No difference in the response to treatment between intermediate- (83.3%) and high-risk (84%) patients could be seen.
EMDA/MMC is a useful technique for an effective and safe treatment of primary and recurrent NMIBC, and a valuable therapeutic option in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients.
Urologia internationalis. 2019 Aug 28 [Epub ahead of print]
Roberto Carando, Michele Zazzara, Simone Cotrufo, Giuseppe M Ludovico
Clinica Luganese Moncucco, Lugano, Switzerland, ., Department of Urology, Ospedale F. Miulli, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy.