Ultrastructural study of the noninvolved urothelium of tumor-bearing patients after two years of intravesical interferon therapy
Stravoravdi, P.; Natsis, K.; Kirtsis, P.; Retalis, G.; Konstandinidis, E.; Polyzonis, M.
European Urology 29(4): 477-482
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0302-2838 PMID: 8791058 Document Number: 468768
Objective: Seventeen patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were studied. Twelve patients did not have a recurrence 2 years after a transurethral resection (TUR) followed by interferon (IFN)-alpha-2b treatment. This observation led us to study the ultrastructural morphology of the noninvolved urothelium in 8 of the above 12 patients. Methods: All patients had a primary solitary grade I or II tumor. Topical therapy was started after TUR. Each patient received a total of 22 instillations of 50 MU IFN-alpha-2b in 12 months according to the standard procedure. After the first year, a repetitive dose of 50 MU IFN-alpha-2b was administered every 2 months for a period of 1 more year. Results: At the end of therapy, certain ultrastructural modifications were observed indicating a partial restoration of the urothelium: the existence of asymmetric unit membrane, a well-developed Golgi apparatus and an increase of the filaments. The cells were joined to each other with well-developed tight junctions. Tubuloreticular inclusions were also observed. Conclusions: Prevention of recurrence by restoring the morphology of the noninvolved urothelium in response to IFN treatment deserves further examination.