Preliminary experience of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in the treatment of bladder cancer secondary to kidney transplantation / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the experience of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG) in the treatment of bladder cancer secondary to renal transplantation.Methods:The clinical data of 5 patients who underwent BCG bladder irrigation after secondary bladder cancer after kidney transplantation in Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were analyzed. There were 1 male and 4 female cases. During the period of immunosuppression after transplantation, 1 case developed secondary high-level non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), 3 cases developed secondary low-grade NMIBC, and 1 case developed secondary glandular cystitis (4 cases). The mean age of the 5 patients with secondary bladder cancer was 59.7±4.0 years. Case one with high level NMIBC was treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and postoperative irrigation of epirubicin. Case 3 and 5 with low-level NMIBC accepted regular postoperative irrigation of gemcitabine. No irrigative therapy was performed in case 2. Bladder cancer recurred in case 1, 2, 3 and 5 after 20.1±9.7 months. TURBT was observed in all the 4 patients, among which 3 were of high grade NMIBC and 1 was of low grade NMIBC. Four patients were irrigated with BCG 2 weeks after operation. Postoperative pathology indicated low-level NMIBC in case 4, and BCG was irrigated 2 weeks after the operation. During perfusion therapy, immunosuppressive agents were continued.Results:During BCG perfusion, 4 of the 5 cases showed BCG related local inflammation, among which 2 cases presented symptoms of bladder irritation, 1 case presented hematuria, and 1 case presented hematuria with low fever. Patients with frequent urination, pain in urine, hematuria and other symptoms improved after drinking plenty of water, taking bed rest and taking levofloxacin (0.5g/ day ×7 days). Patients with low fever were treated with antipyretic treatment. No antituberculous agents were used prophylactically during BCG perfusion. There were no symptoms of tuberculosis infection or sepsis. The function of transplantated kidney was normal and no tendency of rejection. The 5 patients were followed up for 7-24 months, 1 patient was lost to follow-up after 7 months of BCG bladder perfusion, and no tumor recurrence or metastasis was found in 5 patients during the follow-up.Conclusions:The use of immunosuppressive agents does not reduce the biological activity of BCG, and BCG does not increase the risk of systemic toxicity or affect the function of transplanted kidneys in immunocompromised patients. BCG is a treatment option for bladder cancer secondary to renal transplantation.