Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of sequential gemcitabine and epirubicin therapy on high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer following transurethral bladder tumour resection

Jinhai Zhu , Zeping Zuo, Hongtao Yu, Junjie Qian

Department of Urology, Tongling People's Hospital, Tongling City, Anhui Province, China;

For correspondence:- Jinhai Zhu Email: jinhai20220616@163.com

Accepted: 24 March 2024 Published: 30 April 2024

Citation: Zhu J, Zuo Z, Yu H, Qian J. Effect of sequential gemcitabine and epirubicin therapy on high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer following transurethral bladder tumour resection. Trop J Pharm Res 2024; 23(4):707-713 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v23i4.5

© 2024 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of sequential gemcitabine and epirubicin therapy on high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT).

Methods: The records of 100 high-risk NMIBC patients, who underwent TURBT at the Tongling People's Hospital, Tongling City, China between January 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 46 patients, treated with epirubicin after operation, were assigned to control group, while 54 patients, treated with both gemcitabine and epirubicin, were included in the study group. DKK-1 and YKL-4 levels were assayed by immunomagnetic bead?based liquid chip technology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Furthermore, treatment efficacy was determined and compared between the two groups.

Results: There were no significant differences in the pre-treatment DKK-1 and YKL-40 levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, both groups experienced a significant drop in post-treatment levels, with significantly lower post-treatment levels in the study group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in catheter retention time and hospitalization time between the two groups (p > 0.05). The study group achieved a significantly better overall response rate than the control group. The pre-treatment SF-36 scores of the two groups were similar, while their post-treatment SF-36 scores increased significantly (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Sequential therapy with gemcitabine and epirubicin is effective in the therapy of high-risk NMIBC after TURBT. It significantly lowers DKK-1 and YKL-40 levels, improves postoperative quality of life and reduces the postoperative recurrence rate without increasing adverse reactions and affecting the catheter retention and hospitalization times. A more comprehensive analysis is required to obtain improved outcomes.

Keywords: Gemcitabine, Epirubicin, Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor, High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, Efficacy