Therapeutic Use of Mitomycin C for Urological Conditions: Systematic Review of the Literature

Introduction Mitomycin C offers a wide range of potential clinical uses in various disciplines, including urological diseases. As experimentally proven the effect of mitomycin C can be partly explained by its antifibrotic properties exerted on different target organs as well as its anticarcinogenic properties. We systematically reviewed the clinical applications of mitomycin C in the urological literature and comment on its safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes. Methods We searched the MEDLINE® database, Cochrane Library® Central Search and Web of Science™ using the search terms mitomycin C and clinical applications. Peer reviewed clinical, experimental and review articles published in the English language that included mitomycin C and urological conditions were identified and screened between 2000 and 2014. Results Our search resulted in 13 peer reviewed published articles that fit our criteria, including 2 randomized, controlled trials, 2 prospective studies, 3 retrospective studies, 1 meta-analysis, 3 reviews and 2 in vitro studies. The majority of studies detailed the clinical use of mitomycin C in various urological conditions. Information was extracted from studies that discussed the safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes of mitomycin C across each urological disease. Conclusions This systematic review details the different therapeutic applications of mitomycin C and comments on its safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes in urological diseases and conditions. This review also provides a useful guide for urologists to become familiar with the potential therapeutic roles of mitomycin C in the treatment of different urological diseases.