To compare patient-reported side effects and tolerability of full-dose Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), reduced-dose BCG, and gemcitabine one week after administration.

All patients from July 2019 to November 2020 receiving intravesical therapy (IVT) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) at our institution were surveyed before repeat instillation. Survey questions recorded IVT retention times and the duration and severity of the following side effects: bladder symptoms, fatigue, body aches, hematuria, fever, chills, and other. All responses were collected and quantified in a de-identified, password-protected database. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS JMP 13.

Of 592 surveys completed, symptoms of any kind were reported on 463 surveys (78%) with the most common symptoms including bladder symptoms (59%), fatigue (52%), body aches (26%), and hematuria (18%). Patients were able to hold full-dose BCG, reduced-dose BCG, and gemcitabine for the protocol-specified duration 87%, 95%, and 71% of the time (P <0.05). The prevalence, severity, and duration of body aches were highest with gemcitabine (P <0.05) while the prevalence and duration of hematuria were higher with BCG (P <0.05). Reduced-dose BCG had the lowest prevalence, severity, and duration of fatigue (P <0.05).

Significant differences in the side effects and tolerability of full-dose BCG, reduced-dose BCG, and gemcitabine were demonstrated using this novel survey, and these differences are of value for informing IVT selection. Evaluation of IVTs other than gemcitabine and BCG will further inform selection of therapies for NMIBC.