Intravesical gemcitabine reduces side effects for non-invasive muscle bladder cancer

Intravesical gemcitabine had lower adverse effects compared to intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for non-invasive muscle bladder cancer (NMIBC), according to a new study. This study was published in the Urology Journal.

117 intermediate-risk NMIBC patients underwent Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (TURBT) surgery and received 1 gr intravesical gemcitabine immediately after the surgery. Then the patients were divided into two groups, either receiving intravesical gemcitabine or intravesical BCG weekly for 6 weeks and they were followed up with cystoscopy.

 The rate of side effects in the group receiving gemcitabine was much lower than the group receiving BCG. The recurrence rate during a one-year period was lower in the gemcitabine group compared to the BCG group.

According to this study, the efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine and intravesical BCG was almost same in the treatment of intermediate-risk NMIBCs. The of Gemcitabine had significantly lower adverse effects and fewer complications compared to BCG, and therefore can be a good alternative treatment for intermediate-risk NMIBCs, especially among older patients with comorbidities.