Aim: Owing to the limited efficacy and significant toxicity of most topical intravesical agents for the management of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a search for new therapeutic modalities continues. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a relatively new modality, combined intravesical chemotherapy and hyperthermia, using the intravesical chemohyperthermia system.
Methods: The data summarize our 10 years of experience in the Department of Urology at Bnai Zion Medical Center, Israel. Ninety two patients with NMIBC (88 evaluable) were treated according to the adjuvant (66 patients) and the neoadjuvant (26 patients) protocols, with up to 7 years follow-up.
Results: Over the follow-up period, 56 out of 64 patients (72%) treated according to the adjuvant protocol remained free from recurrences. The progression rate was 4.7% (three out of 64 patients). An initial complete response was documented in 19 out of 24 patients (79%) treated according to the neoadjuvant protocol. During the follow-up period, 16 out of these 19 patients (84%) remained free from recurrences. All of the recurrences in this group had stage Ta grade 1 tumors.
Conclusion: Microwave-induced chemohyperthermia is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with NMIBC, both in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. The use of this treatment modality did not expose the patients to an increased risk of progression.