ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effect of post bladder sparing surgery intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy for the treatment of T1G3 bladder urothelial carcinoma.MethodsSeventy-four T1G3 bladder cancer patients were enrolled in this study.After bladder sparing surgery,22 patients received intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy,while the other 52 patients were treated with intravesical chemotherapy only.There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in sex,age,the size and number of bladder tumor and newly diagnosed cases (P ＞0.05).Twenty-two patients were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy of piarubicin or epirubicin (40 -60 mg)+ cisplatin (60 -80 mg) 2 or 3 weeks after bladder sparing surgery,3 times as a cycle,repeat every 4 - 6 weeks.All the patients received the same protocol of intravesical chemotherapy.With a median follow-up of 32 months,effects of combination therapy group were compared with intravesical chemotherapy group in the aspects of tumor-specific death rates,recurrent rate,progressive rate,recurrent interval and the adverse reactions.ResultsThe tumor-specific death rates of combination therapy group and intravesical chemotherapy group were 0％ (0/22) and 13.5％ (7/52),respectively.There was no difference between the 2 groups (P =0.096).The recurrent rates were 13.6％ (3/22) and 46.2％ ( 24/52 ) ； The progressive rates were 0％ (0/22) and 21.2％ (11/52).There were significant differences between the 2 groups in recurrent rate (P =0.000) and progressive rate (P =0.048 ).The recurrent intervals of the 2 groups were 15 months and 6.5 months.During the interval of intra-arterial chemotherapy cycle,12 patients suffered 1 -2 degree nausea and vomit,2 patients suffered hypoleukemia,2 patients suffered neutropenia,4 patients'liver function was impaired and 1 patient's renal function was impaired.All the adverse reactions were minimal and reversible.ConclusionsIntra-arterial chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy is effective in preventing T1 G3 bladder cancer from recurrence and metastasis after bladder sparing surgery.The adverse reactions of this protocol were minimal and reversible.