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Introduction: The natural history of the superficial carcinoma of bladder is characterized by his high rate of recurrence and by the aptitude to progress to higher stages. We are going to investigate the capacity of prediction for tumor recurrence of protein p53, antigen Ki-67, E Cadherin and Beta Catenin, Material and Method: 88 T1 tumors with a median of free time of disease of 36 months. 58% of the serie has received prophylactic treatment with BCG 81 mg. weekly for six weeks. Cut-oof level for For P53 and Ki-67 is 10 % of stained cells. For E Cadherin and Beta Catenin we have established two groups: one with the values 0-4 (negative), and other one with the values 5-8 (positive)., Results: Recurrence rate 31%, stage progression 3%. Ki-67 expression is correlated with grade (p .002) and lymphatic permeation (p .028). Multiplicity is correlated with lack( of Cadherin and Catenin's expression. Only Ki-67 expression (p .049) and lack of Beta Catenin expression (p .039) reach statistical significance. In multivariant study only lack of Beta Catenin's expression shows independent recurrence value (p .049; O.R: 2,4-6,9), Conclusions: The most useful prognmostic markers are Ki-67 and Catenina Beta Only Beta Catenin Beta shows independent value for tumour recurrence. Tumors wich lack expression for Catenin B or Cadherin E have lower recurrence free time.

Objectives: Bladder leiomyoma is a rare tumor, its frequency being estimated below 1%., Methods: We report the case of a 17-year-old mole patient presenting with hematuria and lower urinary tract irritative symptoms whose work up discovered two small bladder tumors., Results: After TUR of the lesions the diagnosis of bladder leiomyoma was established; no recurrences have appeared on follow-up., Conclusions: Bladder leiomyoma is a benign tumor, therefore surgery should be the most conservative. Bibliographic review of the Spanish urologic journals shows that this is the youngest patient reported to date.

Introduction: Transitional bladder cancer is infrequent in younger people. The tumor's aggressiveness in this population is subject of discussion. We present our experience., Material & Method: 551 primary tumors, with at least one year of follow-up. Group A (less than 41 years old), Group B (bigger than 40 years old). We compare, stage, grade, lymphatic permeation, multiplicity, recurrence, progression, sex, T.L.E. (time free of disease), volume. We do uni and multivariate analysis., Results: 17 tumors in younger than 41 years (2.1%). The recurrence rate is 11.8% in Group A and 36% in Group B (p .041). Progression rate: 0% in A and 4.1% in B (p .253). In Group A, T1 tumors (13.3% vs. 39%), G2 tumors (0% vs. 36.7%); withouts in lymphatic permeation (0% vs. 35%) and solitary tumors (13.3% vs. 35.3%) have statistically less recurrence. In univariate analysis we appreciate statistical differences in relation with grade (p .002) and sex (p .011). In multivariate analysis, stage, "group of age" and prophylactic treatment are independent variables for recurrence, and grade for progression., Conclusions: In younger than 41 years old: Less pathologic aggressivity (0% G3); Group of age is independent prognostic variable for recurrence, but not p for progression, despite a "less aggressive behaviour": 11.8% recurrence, 0% progression; T.L.E. bigger (one year more); Higher incidence in women (41% vs. 11%); Less recurrence in T1 tumors (13.3% vs. 39%), G2 tumors (0% vs. 36.7%) and solitary tumors (13.3% vs. 35.32%).

Introduction: It is not usual to use as prognostic factor the bladder lymphatic vessels invasion., Method & Material: 519 T1 bladder tumors with complete resection and follow up of one year at least. Prophylaxis with 81 mg of BCG weekly during six weeks in 54%., Results: Follow up without recurrence of 38 months. 49%. Tumour recurrence of 49% and progression of 7%. 5.8% of the tumours are L1 and 70.7% L0. There are significative statistic relation between lympatic invasion and progression (p. 005), tumoral grade (p. 000) and actual situation (p. 02). 23% of the L1 tumours progressed vs 5% of L0. Prophylaxis with BCG reduces progression risk (33% without treatment vs 16 with BCG (p n.s.)). In multivariate analysis, resected volume (p. 024) and prophylactic treatment are independent variables for recurrence and lymphatic vessels invasion (p. 0478) and tumoral grade (p. 092) for progression., Conclusions: 1) L1 tumours has more probabilities of progression. 2) BCG disminishes progression rate but this is not statistical significative. 3) We need new markers to select which L1 tumours will progress.

Objective: To report a case of leiomyoma of the bladder in a patient with unspecific urinary symptoms and discuss the utility of the diagnostic imaging techniques., Methods/results: A 56-year-old woman who consulted for unspecific urinary symptoms is described. Patient evaluation with ultrasound, CT and MRI showed a mass in the posterior aspect of the urinary bladder., Conclusions: Leiomyoma of the bladder is an uncommon benign tumor that is asymptomatic in most of the cases and is frequently discovered incidentally during assessment for other conditions. The case described herein presented with unspecific urinary symptoms. Patient evaluation with different diagnostic imaging techniques was required for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: Evaluate the utility of Ki-67 label index, p53 expression and flow cytometry-DNA ploidy in the selection of groups to be treated with prophylactic BCG and the prognostic value compared with the classic variables (grade, lymphatic permeation, multiplicity, volume, primary)., Material & Method: 121 superficial bladder tumors T1. 10% Cut-off level for Ki-67 and p53. Aneuplody is defined as a tumor with DNA index different of 1 or more than 20% in G2-M phase. 71 (58.7%) received BCG., Results: In uni and multivariate analysis positivity to Ki-67 is correlated with recurrence. Progression is correlated with lymphatic permeation (p .0003), volume (p .016), ploidy (p .022) and positivity to p53 (p .007). In multivariate analysis, volume and positivity to p53 are independent variables. None were of utility to prevent recurrence, but Ki-67 positive or aneuploid treated tumors had less progression (p .025 and p .009 respectively). The p53 negative treated tumors had less progression too., Conclusions: Only Ki-67 is correlated with tumoral recurrence. P53 and tumor volume are correlated with stage progression. If the results are confirmed with bigger series, the Ki-67 positive and/or aneuploid tumors would obtain benefits of prophylactic treatment with BCG.

Objective: Observe the correlation between Ki-67 label index, p53 expression and flow cytometry-DNA ploidy with the classic variables (grade, lymphatic permeation, multiplicity, volume, primary)., Material and Method: 121 superficial bladder tumors T1. 10% Cut-off level for Ki-67 and p53. Aneuploidy is defined as a tumor with DNA index different of 1 or more than 20% in G2-M phase., Results: Statistical correlation with grade and lymphatic permeation. Ki-67 label index and p53 expression can distinguish between G1, G2 vs G3 and Lx, L0 vs. L1. The volume correlates with positivity to p53., Conclusions: Aneuploidy and positivity to Ki-67 and p53 increase with grade and lymphatic permeation.

We present our experience in eighty patients with superficial bladder cancer stage T1. They have been randomized to receive BCG 27 mg weekly x 6 and monthly until complete one year (Group A) or the same schedule plus Tegafur 800 mg daily until complete one year. Results are similar in both groups. With a median follow up of two years and a half, 33% in Group A and 20% in Group B have had recurrence; 7.6% in group A and 3% in group B have had progression in stage. Differences are not significant in both cases. Tolerance of Tegafur is good with only 11% of secondary effects. We concluded that there are no differences in both treatments but there is a trend to better results with combinant therapy. It is necessary more patients to achieve definitive results.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of prophylactic treatment of stage T1 superficial tumors of the bladder with 27 mg BCG weekly for 6 weeks and to compare the results reported in the literature., Methods: BCG instillations were offered to 235 patients and was accepted by 111 (group A) and refused by 124 (group B). Three weeks thereafter, intravesical instillation of 27 mg BCG was administered for 6 weeks. The patients were controlled regularly according to the standard control procedures utilized in our setting., Results: 39% of the patients in group A showed recurrence versus 71.7% of those in group B (p < 0.001). No differences in progression of tumor stage was observed; 6.3% for group A and 10.9% for group B. By grade, significant differences were found in the number of recurrence in those with G1 (28.5% vs 69%; p < 0.001) and G2 (47% vs 72%; p < 0.01) tumors, but not for G3 (53% vs 77%; p = n.s.). No differences were found in the number of progressions. For those with G2 and G3, the results were not as good as those reported in the literature. The incidence of toxicity was 33%., Conclusions: The results achieved in patients with G2 and especially G3 tumors were not as good as those reported in the literature, therefore we do not recommend this approach. For those with G1 tumors and assuming a toxicity rate of 33%, the results are similar to those reported elsewhere using higher doses, and therefore this approach could be utilized.

Objective: To identify the prognostic factors for recurrence and disease progression in T1 superficial carcinoma of the bladder for prophylactic therapeutic planning., Methods: Of 309 patients with superficial carcinoma of the bladder that had only undergone TUR, we selected 196 patients that met the following requirements: T1 tumor, one year minimum follow-up (except for recurrence), TUR complete on gross examination. The changes observed with recurrence (presence of a tumor regardless of grade or stage) and disease progression (higher tumor stage and therefore infiltrating) in the following parameters were analyzed: tumor grade, node involvement, volume resected, number of tumors, primary or recurrent and age., Results: 141 (72%) showed recurrence and 23 disease progression (11.7%) at two-years' mean follow-up. The resected tumor volume was found to be a prognostic factor for recurrence by univariate (0.010) and multivariate analysis (0.039). Tumor grade (0.0005) and node involvement (0.040) were prognostic factors for disease progression by univariate analysis and tumor grade (0.006) by multivariate analysis., Conclusions: Resected tumor volume, node involvement and tumor grade were found to be prognostic factors. The incidence of disease progression in this series falls within the lower ranges reported in the literature.

We show our results in the diagnostic and follow-up of the bladder tumors comparing de BTA test with Void Cytology, in order to substitute this with the former. We performed BTA test, Void Cytology (of the same sample) and abdominal ultrasound to 133 patients. They are divided in three groups: 45 with bladder tumor, 16 healthy controls, 72 in follow-up with and without prophylaxis. The sensibility and specificity in tumor's group were similar. In controls' and follow-up's groups the void cytology specificity was superior. There is a high number of false positives in the follow-up group with a large number of "white" cystoscopes. A high number of false positives was seen if the BTA test was done in he first three months of follow-up. In the subgroup in prophylaxis with cystostatic there weren't false positives. We conclude that BTA test is useful in the diagnostic of bladder tumor but not in the follow-up, especially in the first three months.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of our BCG dose and schedule for prophylactic therapy in superficial bladder tumors., Methods: Following complete TUR, 81 mg intravesical BCG were administered weekly for six weeks and for nightly another six times. The patients were evaluated every three months by cytology, cystoscopy and routine analysis., Results: 21/25 patients completed the treatment. At 15.5 months median follow-up, 18/21 (85.7%) were disease-free, 2/21 (9.5%) had recurrence and 1/21 (4.7%) showed disease progression., Conclusions: BCG is the most effective prophylactic therapy for superficial bladder tumors currently available. The ideal dose, treatment schedule and its mechanism of action are as yet unknown.

Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the usefulness of prophylactic therapy with alpha 2b interferon for superficial bladder tumors., Method: Following complete TUR, alpha 2b infereron was administered to 36 patients at a dose of 50 million IU weekly for 3 months and monthly for 9 months. Patients were evaluated every 3 months on the basis of their clinical and analytical data and the cystoscopic findings., Results: Twenty-six patients completed treatment and were evaluable. The follow up and disease-free period was 25.70 months. Recurrence was observed in 38.4% of the patients and tumor progression in 3.8%., Conclusions: Alpha 2b interferon is useful in the prevention of tumor recurrence. Its utility is similar to that of other drugs currently used.

From 1984 to 1991, fifty-one patients completed prophylactic endovesical treatment with mitomycin C after transurethral resection of a bladder carcinoma Ta, Tl. The mean disease-free period was 31.2 months; twenty patients had recurrences (39.2%) and five (9.8%) had a progression in tumor stage. No statistically significant differences were found relative to the recurrences and tumor number, stage and size. The patients with prior tumors had recurrences before (p < 0.05) and more times (p < 0.01) than the primary group.

Contribution of our experience in 66 patients included in a prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy of Mitomycin C (MMC) and Alpha 2B Interferon (IFN) in the prevention of relapse of vesical surface tumours. Thirty-five patients were included in the MMC arm, 29 of which completed the treatment. Thirty-one patients were included in the IFN arm, 26 of which are evaluable. MMC was given endovesically at a rate of 30 mg weekly for one month, and then monthly to complete one year. Through the same route, 50 million units of IFN were given weekly for 3 months, and then monthly to complete one year. Within the MMC arm, three patients (10.3%) showed progress, twelve patients (451.3%) relapsed, and seventeen (58.7%) are disease free. With regard to IFN treated patients, one patient (3.8%) showed progress, ten (38.4%) relapsed, and sixteen (61.6%) are disease free. We conclude that there are no significant differences between these two drugs.