A Comparison Between Intravesical Gemcitabine Plus Docetaxel and Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in the Treatment of Nonmuscle Invasive Naive Urinary Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Oncological Outcomes

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy, recurrence rates, and safety of intravesical gemcitabine plus docetaxel compared to standard Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for treating naïve non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with a focus on reducing recurrence and progression concerns associated with transurethral resection (TURBT). A systematic review and meta-analysis of three original studies were conducted, assessing recurrence rates and safety profiles. The meta-analysis revealed no heterogeneity in recurrence rates between the gemcitabine plus docetaxel and BCG groups, with an overall Odds Ratio for recurrence of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.36-1.47). Although the clinical recurrence rate was slightly lower in the gemcitabine plus docetaxel group, the difference was not statistically significant (Z = 0.89, P = 0.37). The gemcitabine plus docetaxel group experienced fewer severe side effects compared to the BCG group. Due to the limited number of studies available, further randomized trials are necessary to confirm the role of intravesical gemcitabine plus docetaxel in NMIBC management. © © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.