Evaluation of therapeutic effects of (125)I particles brachytherapy for recurrent bladder cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of (125)I particles implantation in the treatment of recurrent bladder cancer. The study is a retrospective analysis of 32 patients with recurrent bladder cancer treated between May 2010 and January 2010. Of these, 16 cases (chemotherapy group) received conventional chemotherapy. A total of 16 patients ((125)I group) received radiotherapy with (125)I particles, followed by conventional chemotherapy. By guidance of B ultrasound, (125)I radioactive particles were implanted. All 32 patients were relieved after treatment, and the tumors were significantly reduced after 2 months. However, the tumors in the (125)I group were significantly smaller than those in the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). The patients were followed-up for 1 year and no recurrence was found. Additionally, no complications occurred. Compared with the chemotherapy group, the tumor volume of the (125)I group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The disease-free survival and 5-year survival rates of the patients in the follow-up showed that the disease-free survival and 5-year survival rates of the patients in (125)I group were significantly improved compared to those in the chemotherapy group. Therefore, the results have shown that (125)I radioactive particles in the treatment of bladder cancer improve the symptoms of patients with bladder cancer in the short term, and continuously kill residual tumor and prevent recurrence.