Abstract
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) induction instillation therapy after second transurethral resection (TUR) in stage Ta T1 high-grade bladder cancer. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 49 consecutive new onset Ta T1 high-grade bladder cancer patients treated with second TUR at our affiliated institutions. Residual cancer rate, intravesical recurrence-free survival (RFS), and risk factors related to RFS were evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients received BCG therapy after the second TUR (BCG group), and 18 patients were treated with second TUR alone (no BCG group). There were statistically significant differences in the RFS rates between the two groups, (P = 0.037). BCG therapy was the only factor predictive of intravesical recurrence after second TUR in both univariate and multivariate analyses. After the second TUR, BCG therapy significantly decreased intravesical recurrence in the patients with residual tumors (P = 0.014). However, there was no significant difference in intravesical recurrence in the patients with no residual tumors between the two groups (P = 0.359). CONCLUSION: BCG therapy after second TUR significantly decreased intravesical recurrence of residual tumors found at the second TUR.