[Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of HIVEC intravesical thermochemotherapy with intermediate-risk and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer]

Abstract

Introduction: Non-muscle-infiltrating cancers (NMIBC) represent 75% of bladder tumors. The objective of our study is to report a single-center experience of the efficacy and tolerability of HIVEC on intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC in adjuvant therapy.

Material and method: Between December 2016 and October 2020, patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk NMIBC were included. They were all treated with HIVEC as an adjuvant therapy to bladder resection. Efficacy was assessed by endoscopic follow-up and tolerance by a standardized questionnaire.

Results: A total of 50 patients were included. The median age was 70years (34-88). The median follow-up time was 31 months (4-48). Forty-nine patients had cystoscopy as part of the follow-up. Nine recurred. One patient progressed to Cis. The 24-month recurrence-free survival was 86.6%. There were no severe adverse events (grade 3 or 4). The ratio of delivered instillations to planned instillations was 93%.

Conclusion: HIVEC with the COMBAT system is well tolerated in adjuvant treatment. However, it is not better than standard treatments, especially for intermediate-risk NMIBC. While waiting for recommendations, it cannot be proposed as an alternative to standard treatment.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; Efficacy; Progression; Recurrence; Récidive; Thermo-chimiothérapie; Thermochemotherapy; Tolerance; Tolérance; Tumeur de vessie.