Commentary on “Optimal schedule of bacillus Calmette-Guerin for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A meta-analysis of comparative studies.” Zhu S, Tang Y, Li K, Shang Z, Jiang N, Nian X, Sun L, Niu Y, Department of Urology Tianjin Institute of Urology, 2nd Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, People's Republic of China.: BMC Cancer 2013; 13:332. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-13-332

Abstract

BackgroundTo explore the necessity of maintenance, efficacy of low-dose and superiority of various combination therapies of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in treatment of superficial bladder cancer (BCa). MethodsComprehensive searches of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library), were performed, then a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis of 21 randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and 9 retrospective comparative studies were carried out according to, predefined inclusion criteria. ResultsSignificantly better recurrence-free survivals (RFS) were observed respectively in patients who received BCG maintenance, standard-dose and BCG plus epirubicin therapy comparing to those received induction, low-dose and BCG alone. BCG maintenance therapy was also associated with significantly better progression-free survival (PFS), but there were more incidences of adverse events. Pooled results showed no remarkable advantage of BCG combined with Mitomycin C or with interferon α-2b in improving oncologic outcomes. Sensitivity-analyses stratified by study-design and tumor stage led to very similar overall results and often to a decrease of the between-study heterogeneity. Our data confirmed that non-RCT only affected strength rather than direction of the overall results. ConclusionsAll patients with superficial BCa should be encouraged to accept BCG maintenance therapy with standard-dose if well tolerated. Patients can benefit from BCG combined with epirubicin but not from BCG combined with Mitomycin C or interferon α-2b.