Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the recurrence-preventing effect of intravesical instillations of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma. In addition, this study aimed to determine the significance of immune parameters for recurrence-free interval.
Patients and methods: Twenty-six patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma were treated with intravesical instillations of IL-2 (Proleukin®, Novartis, formerly Chiron) in doses of 9 × 10(6) IU on 5 consecutive days, beginning on the second day after transurethral resection (TUR) of tumours. CD8(high)CD57(+) lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined before TUR and compared with the recurrence-free interval after treatment.
Results: The multivariate analysis showed that CD8(high)CD57(+) lymphocytes had a prognostic significance in combination with number of bladder tumours, prior recurrence rate and age of patients.
Conclusion: Peripheral blood CD8(high)CD57(+) lymphocytes have prognostic significance for recurrence-free survival in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma after TUR and intravesical IL-2.