Intra-arterial chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer (T2-3N0M0)

We assessed the effectiveness of intra-arterial MVAC chemotherapy or a combination of intra-arterial chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy based on diagnostic images and histological (transurethral) examination in 15 cases with T2-3N0M0 between January 2003 and September 2005. When the clinical response was assessed one month after the treatments, a complete response (CR) was achieved in 20% (1/5) and 50% (5/10) by intra-arterial MVAC chemotherapy and a combination of intra-arterial chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy, respectively. Total radical cystectomy was required on one patient during the follow-up period of 4-26 months. Although our result showed that the combination of external beam radiation therapy and intra-arterial cisplatin effectively contributed to the preservation of the bladder with localized invasive bladder cancer, radical cystectomy is required when CR is not achieved after this treatment. (author)