Sequential Intravesical Chemoimmunotherapy with Mitomycin C and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Alone in Patients with Carcinoma in Situ of the Urinary Bladder: Results of an EORTC Genito-Urinary Group Randomized Phase 2 Trial (30993)

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the intravesical treatment of choice for carcinoma in situ (CIS). Objective: Our aim was to assess if sequential mitomycin C (MMC) plus BCG after transurethral resection (TUR) is worthy of further study in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients with CIS. Design, setting, and participants: In a noncomparative phase 2 study, 96 patients with primary/secondary/concurrent CIS of the urinary bladder were randomized to sequential MMC plus BCG or to BCG alone after TUR. Intervention: Patients received six weekly instillations of MMC followed by six weekly instillations of BCG or six weekly instillations of BCG, 3 wk rest, and three further weekly instillations of BCG. Complete responders received three weekly maintenance instillations at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 mo in accordance with the initial randomization. Measurements: End points were complete response (CR) rate at the first control cystoscopy 16-18 wk after start of treatment, disease-free interval, overall survival, and side effects. Results and limitations: Ninety-six patients were randomized, 48 to each treatment group. Ten patients were ineligible, and three did not start treatment. In all random-ized patients, CR rates on MMC plus BCG and BCG alone were 70.8% and 66.7%, respectively. In 83 eligible patients who started treatment, CR rates were 75.6% and 73.8%, respectively. Based on a median follow-up of 4.7 yr, 25 patients (52.1%) on MMC plus BCG and 22 patients (45.8%) on BCG alone were disease free. Twelve patients stopped treatment due to toxicity: three during induction (two MMC plus BCG, one BCG) and nine during maintenance (three MMC plus BCG, six BCG). Conclusions: In the treatment of patients with CIS, sequential chemoimmunotherapy with MMC plus BCG had acceptable toxicity. CR and disease-free rates were similar to those on BCG alone and to previous publications on sequential chemoimmunotherapy.