Use of intravesical cisplatin and mitomycin-C for recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of bladder refractory to thiotepa

Abstract Superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCCaB) has a high incidence of recurrence. Intravesical thiotepa is the drug used most often for treatment. Intravesical mitomycin-C also has shown promise. Cisplatin has proven activity in patients with metastatic TCCaB and in experimental bladder cancer models. Patients who have no response to one intravesical agent such as thiotepa may respond to other agent(s) such as mitomycin-C or cisplatin. In this report we have evaluated 10 patients with superficial recurrent TCCaB who showed no response to intravesical thiotepa and were subsequently treated with mitomycin-C or cisplatin. Six patients were treated with cisplatin and 4 with mitomycin-C. The 4 treated with mitomycin-C had complete response or partial response within three months. Of the 6 treated with cisplatin, 4 had complete response within three months, and 2 had no response.