A comparative study of gemcitabine and epirubicin in adjuvant chemotherapy of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and epirubicin curing for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).Methods:From October 2014 to October 2017, 86 patients with NMIBC diagnosed by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in Wenling Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 42 were treated with gemcitabine (gemcitabine group) and the other 44 with epirubicin (epirubicin group). In gemcitabine group, there were 37 males and 5 females. The average age was 63.9 (48-81) years old. 30 cases were single tumor while 12 cases were multiple. 35 cases with tumor diameter less than 3cm and 7 cases with tumor diameter greater than 3cm. There were 28 cases in T a stage and 14 cases in T 1 stage. 13 patients’ tumor were high grade and 29 patients’ tumor were low grade. In the epirubicin group, there were 36 males and 8 females. The average age was 65.4 (48-88) years. 31 cases were single tumor while 13 cases were multiple. 36 cases with tumor diameter less than 3cm and 8 cases with tumor diameter greater than 3cm. There were 30 cases in T a stage and 14 cases in T 1 stage. 15 patients’ tumor were high grade and 29 patients’ tumor were low grade. There was no significant difference in the above general information between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The two groups were treated with epirubicin or gemcitabine within 24 hours after operation, and bladder perfusion once a week was performed continuously after the first week of operation, a total of 8 times, and after that once a month till one year after operation. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier was used to compare the recurrence free survival time of tumor after operation. The prognostic factors were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model. Results:The adverse reactions of the two groups were mainly bladder irritation, gross hematuria, fever, nausea and vomiting. The incidence of bladder irritation and gross hematuria in epirubicin group was 25.0% (11 / 44) and 18.2% (8 / 44), which were significantly higher than those in gemcitabine group [7.1% (3/42) and 2.4% (1/42)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other adverse reactions between the two groups ( P> 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the median tumor recurrence free survival time of gemcitabine group was 29.7 (6.3-58.8) months, and the 1-year and 2-year tumor recurrence free survival rates were 71.4% (30/42) and 45.2% (19/42), respectively; the median tumor recurrence free survival time of epirubicin group was 28.8 (4.5-57.8) months, and the 1-year and 2-year tumor recurrence free survival rates were 70.5% (31/44) and 47.7% (21/44), respectively. There was no difference in the tumor recurrence free survival rates between the two groups( P>0.05). Cox analysis showed that age ( HR=1.1, 95% CI 1.034-1.113) and tumor grade ( HR=12.2, 95% CI 5.776-25.680) were independent risk factors for prognosis. Conclusions:The efficacy of bladder perfusion chemotherapy with gemcitabine and epirubicin in patients with NMIBC was not significantly different, but the incidence of adverse reactions with gemcitabine was lower, which was safe and reliable. The risk factors affecting postoperative survival rates of NMIBC were patient's age and tumor grade.