Prospective, randomized trial to evaluate high-versus low-dose interferon-alpha 2b versus conventional chemotherapy in prevention of the recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Forty-four patients with superficial bladder cancer were randomized to receive 10 MU (14 patients) or 100 MU (14 patients) of interferon (IFN)-alpha 2b or 1.3 g ethoglucid (16 patients) instilled into the bladder once weekly for 10 weeks and then monthly for 1 year. Efficacy (evaluated in 34 patients who completed the course of treatment), based on recurrence rate and time to first recurrence, was similar in the three groups. No systemic toxicity of treatment was seen. Severe chemocystitis occurred in some patients who received ethoglucid (three had to discontinue treatment), while no local toxicity was seen with IFN-alpha 2b treatment.