Single ablative intravesical electromotive mitomycin C administration for small non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a prospective study

Abstract

Objectives To explore the effect of electromotive drug administration of mitomycin C (EMDA-MMC) using a single dose of intravesical mitomycin C (MMC) to avoid transurethral resection (TURBT) for small non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Material and methods All patients presenting small (<2 cm), single or multiple papillary bladder tumors were proposed to undergo a single EMDA-MMC instillation with 60 mg MMC before planning TURBT. The end point is complete disappearance of all papillary tumors at 2–4 weeks after EMDA-MMC.

Results Thirty-six instillations were given to 32 patients. In general the treatment was well supported, except for two patients who had severe bladder spasms, resulting in early evacuation of the MMC. Complete response occurred in 28% (10/36 instillations). In 4 EMDA-MMCs with multiple tumors some tumors disappeared while others remained. In 61% (22/36) the tumors remained unchanged.

Conclusion A single EMDA-MMC in l papillary bladder tumors <2 cm gives insufficient ablative effect.

Keywords:

• Electromotive drug administration
• mitomycin
• intravesical chemotherapy
• urothelial bladder cancer
• chemoresection
• non-muscle-invasive-bladder cancer