The impact of using intraoperative photodynamic diagnosis on the prognosis of bladder cancer

Background Photodynamic Diagnosis (PDD) is widely used today for the diagnosis and treatment of superficial bladder cancer. This study aimed to analyse the impact of using this technique on recurrence rate, residual tumour rate and progression-free survival. Materials and methods We conducted this study retrospectively in our unit between 10/2014 and 02/2018.We divided our patients into 2 groups: white light group, 49 patients who underwent primary bladder tumour resection with white light transurethral resection of bladder tumour (WL-TURB), and blue light group, 49 patients treated with blue light transurethral resection of bladder tumour (BLTURB) with PDD. Patients in both groups were followed up for one year. We collected data for tumour recurrence for the first year, 3-month and 1-year relapse-free survival and 1-year progression-free assessment pursuant to the EORTC risk classification by Sylvester 2006. Furthermore, the residual tumour rate was determined by re-TURB. Results The following results were found independent of age, gender and histological findings: Residual tumour rate: blue light group 13.95% vs. white light group 32.6%, (p 0.02, OR 3.8, CI 95% [1.17-12.85]).; 3-month relapsefree survival: blue light group 87.7% vs. white light group 67.4% (p 0.02, HR 3.18, CI 95% [1.20-8.42]); 1-year relapse-free survival: blue light group 77.6% vs. white light group 55.1% (p 0.015, HR 2.56, CI 95% [1.20-5.45]); 1-year progression-free survival: blue light group 95.9% vs. white light group 79.6 %, p 0.03, HR 5.23, CI 95% [1.11-24.53]) Conclusion The use of hexaminolevulinate significantly reduces the risk of residual tumours compared with conventional TURB. The PDD technique significantly improved 3-and 12-month recurrence-free survival, especially in low and medium-risk tumours, and 1-year progression-free survival, especially in high-risk tumours.