[The prevention of the recurrence of stage pTa bladder tumors using intravesical instillation of BCG]

45 patients were included in a retrospective study designed to assess the long-term efficacy and tolerance of immunotherapy by intravesical BCG instillation in the treatment of stage pTa bladder tumours (mean follow-up 52.7 months, range: 12-87 months). 41 patients (91% responded to immunotherapy: 24 (53%) did not develop anu recurrences with a mean follow-up of 49.4 months (range: 19-87 months) and 17 (37.7%) were improved by treatment as the interval between recurrences was significantly increased. 4 patients (8.8%) failed to respond to BCG therapy with progression to stage pTa G3 vesical papillomatosis in one patient. The local tolerance was poor for twelve patients (26.6%), requiring discontinuation or spacing of the instillations. Other complications such as prostatitis and intense fever were observed. Three patients had persistent disturbances of micturition following treatment in the form of urinary frequency due to the decreased bladder volume. Neither the grade, nor the frequency of recurrences prior to treatment, nor the solitary or multifocal nature, nor the site of the initial tumour appeared to influence the response to BCG therapy and did not constitute independent individual prognostic indicators.