title: [Current role of chemotherapy in musculo-invasive transitional carcinoma of the bladder].
abstract: The results obtained with chemotherapy (CT) in the management of muscle-infiltrating transitional cell bladder carcinoma (TCBC) are compared with those of radiotherapy (RT) and surgery (S). Cisplatin and methotrexate are the most effective agents, with an overall response rate ranging from 20 to 45% when administered singly. Other chemotherapeutic drugs which proved of some antitumor activity in TCBC are doxorubicin and vinblastine, with an overall response rate of approximately 15% (range 4.28%). With each drug used singly, however, complete response (CR) is uncommon. Combination CT regimens (cisplatin + methotrexate, cisplatin + methotrexate + vinblastine, methotrexate + vinblastine + doxorubicin + cisplatin) are inducing a higher number of CR with an overall response rate between 40 and 70%. CT, previously used as adjuvant or salvage therapy in advanced TCBC, is now given in neo-adjuvant fashion in order to achieve tumor size reduction and control of micrometastases. With these multiagent regimens a significant down-staging can be obtained without major toxicity in over 50% of patients with muscle-infiltrating TCBC, thus increasing the number of patients which can be cured by surgery. These neo-adjuvant programs suggests potential benefit, yet randomized studies and prolonged observations are required to provide definitive results.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frassoldati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silingardi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
vernacular_title: Ruolo attuale della chemioterapia nel carcinoma transizionale della vescica muscolo-invasivo.