Inactivation of Epodyl® in Aluminium Foil Cups as a Cause of Ineffective Treatment of Non-Invasive Bladder Tumours

Abstract

Over a 5-year period 38 patients were treated at Rigshospitalet with intravesical instillation of Epodyl® for multiple, non-invasive bladder tumours. The results were significantly inferior (p<0.00025) to those reported from other hospitals, though the composition of the case series was comparable. Analysis of procedure at Rigshospitalet revealed that when Epodyl was mixed with water in aluminium foil cups, which was standard practice at the outpatient department, the concentration was halved in 5 minutes. Ineffective treatment thus had been unwittingly given. The results, however, do not warrant rejection of Epodyl® treatment; they may instead constitute indirect evidence in its favour.