European Urology

Abstract

Background

Transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder tumours is not only mandatory for adequate staging but also crucial in delaying or preventing tumour recurrence and progression.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of routine second TUR on the long-term outcome of patients with newly diagnosed pT1 urothelial carcinoma.

Design, setting, and participants

Two hundred ten newly diagnosed T1 bladder cancer patients were prospectively randomised to two groups between January 2001 and January 2005. Second TUR was performed within 2–6 wk after the initial resection for the patients of group 1. Second TUR was not done in group 2. All patients (groups 1 and 2) received the first instillation of intravesical chemotherapy within 24 h after the initial resection. Urine cytology and follow-up cystoscopy were performed at 3-mo intervals for the first year, biannually for the second year, and annually thereafter. All patients were followed until death or a minimum of 54 mo.

Measurements

This study recorded recurrence, progression rate, and disease-specific survival.

Results and limitations

The mean follow-up period was 66.1 mo without a significant difference between the groups. Residual tumour was detected histopathologically in 35 of 105 patients in group 1. Of these patients, eight had upper-stage (pT2) disease. Recurrence was observed in 37 of the 93 patients in group 1 and 70 of the 98 patients in group 2. Median recurrence-free survival was 47 mo for group 1 compared with 12 mo for group 2. Progression was observed in 6.5% of patients for group 1 compared to 23.5% of patients for group 2 (p = 0.001). Median progress-free survival was 73 mo for group 1 compared to 53.5 mo for group 2. The overall survival rate was 67.7% and 64.3% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (log-rank test result: 0.363). Only 5 of the 30 patients in group 1 died of cancer compared to 11 of the 35 patients in group 2 (p = 0.038).

Conclusions

We have clearly shown that second TUR, which is performed only after complete first TUR, has significantly decreased the recurrence and progression rates in patients with newly diagnosed T1 disease compared to patients with T1 disease but with no second TUR. This study once more underscores the effect of TUR, which is usually underappreciated.

Take Home Message

We clearly demonstrated that second transurethral resection (TUR), which is performed only after complete first TUR, has significantly decreased the recurrence and progression rates in patients with newly diagnosed T1 disease according to data in our prospective trial.