Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41225040›Full record

ReviewOncology and therapy2025

The Impact of Intravesical Instillations on Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Ingolf Griebsch, Sunil Shrestha, Yair Lotan, Chi-Fai Ng, Andrew Bottomley

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Oncology and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Longitudinal data on health-related quality of life and its association with time to readmission in bladder perfusion patients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
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  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ingolf GriebschGlobal Health Economics and Outcome Research, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Ferring International PharmaScience Center, 2770, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sunil ShresthaDepartment of Research and Academics, Kathmandu Cancer Center, Tathali, Nala Road, Bhaktapur, Nepal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9174-7120
Yair LotanVice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Jane and John Justin Distinguished Chair in Urology, in Honor of Claus G. Roehrborn, MD, Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2001 Inwood WCB3 4th Floor, Dallas, TX, 75390-9110, USA.
Chi-Fai NgDepartment of Surgery, SH Ho Urology Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Andrew BottomleyBottomley Consulting Group, Brussels, Belgium. Andrew@andrew-bottomley.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is commonly treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by intravesical chemotherapy and/or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations. While these treatments aim to prevent recurrence and progression, the frequency of their administration and associated side effects can substantially impact patients' quality of life (QoL).

objectivesWe aimed to systematically review the impact of intravesical BCG and chemotherapy instillations on QoL in patients with NMIBC, with a specific focus on how instillation frequency influences treatment adherence and withdrawal rates.

methodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Over 750 abstracts were independently screened by two independent reviewers. Studies published between 2005 and 2024 were included. Data were extracted on demographics, treatment protocols, QoL outcomes, and adherence rates. Risk of bias assessments were undertaken to assess the quality of the studies.

resultsA total of 17 studies were selected, comprising 6 qualitative, 8 quantitative, and 3 mixed-methods designs, totaling 20,045 patients. Frequent instillations were associated with increased urinary symptoms (e.g., urgency and dysuria), fatigue, and emotional distress. Withdrawal rates were high (up to 90%) in intensive schedules, particularly during the first year, due to treatment burden and side effects. Studies demonstrated that reduced instillation frequency could preserve treatment efficacy while improving QoL and adherence.

conclusionsFrequent intravesical instillations can significantly impair QoL, particularly among older patients. While emerging therapies and supportive strategies may help alleviate treatment burden, clinical decision-making must carefully balance QoL with oncologic outcomes. Future research should prioritize personalized approaches that integrate both clinical efficacy and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Indexed as

BCGChemotherapyNon-muscle invasive bladder cancerQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID41225040
PMCPMC12647504

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.