Short Review on Treatment of Superficial Bladder Cancer (Ta, Tis, T1)

At presentation, 70% of patients with bladder cancer have superficial disease, out of which, approximately 15% to 20% will progress to stage T2 disease or greater over time. Following initial therapy, 50% to 70% of those presenting with Ta or T1 disease will have a recurrence. Low-grade tumors (grade I or II) and low-stage (Ta) disease tend to have a lower recurrence rate at about 50% and a 5% progression rate, whereas highrisk disease (grade III, T1 associated with CIS, and multifocal disease) has a 70% recurrence rate and a 30% progression rate to stage T2 disease or greater disease. Less than 5% of patients with superficial bladder cancer will develop metastatic disease without developing evidence of muscularis propria invasion (stage T2 disease or greater) of the primary lesion.