Evaluation of the Dwell-Time and Dose Difference in Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin Therapy

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Urology, Anjo Kosei Hospital, 28 Higashihirokute, Anjo-cho, Anjo, Japan.

2 Department of Nephro-Urology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan.

Abstract

Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG) intravesical therapy is currently established using a low dose because
of the high incidence of side-effects. Moreover, shortening the dwell time of BCG is conducted in some facilities owing
to the complications associated with a long dwell time after injection. The method of BCG administration varies in
each facility and even with each doctor. We evaluated whether the dwell-time and dose differences in patients who
underwent intravesical BCG therapy is related to completion rates, adverse effects, and nonrecurrence rates. Methods:
From November 2006 to April 2016, a total of 173 patients who received intravesical BCG therapy after transurethral
resection of bladder tumor or transurethral biopsy were evaluated retrospectively. We allocated them into 4 groups based
on the dose (40 or 80 mg BCG) and the dwell time (1 or 2 hours). Completion rate, side effects, and nonrecurrence
rates were evaluated. Results: No significant improvement in the completion rate or reduction in side-effects was
observed in any of the regimens. Although nonrecurrence rates for the 1-hour dwell time tended to be lower than the
2-hour dwell time, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Our study suggests that reducing the BCG dose or
shortening the dwell time does not reduce adverse effects or affect the nonrecurrence rate.

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