title: M-VEC (methotrexate, vinblastine, 4'-epirubicin and cisplatin) combined with glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) for the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of urothelium: reduction in toxicity produced by rhG-CSF.
abstract: Forty-six patients with urothelial cancer were treated with a systemic chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of methotrexate, vinblastine, 4'-epirubicin and cisplatin (M-VEC) in conjunction with glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF); then 33 were evaluated for response. Complete response was observed in 7 patients (21%) and partial response in 13 (39%). As far as the toxic effects of this treatment are concerned, mucositis of a minimum grade and leukopenia greater than grade 3 occurred in 5% and 10% of the patients, respectively; there were no cases of nadir sepsis and drug-related death. Minor toxicity such as nausea vomiting occurred in 81% of patients, and no patient required either dose-reduction or a delay of more than 5 d before starting of the second cycle. Thus, it may be concluded that M-VEC chemotherapy combined with rhG-CSF is useful in the treatment of urothelial cancer, especially when used as a neoadjuvant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hatsukaichi, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Igawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadena
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D015251:Epirubicin; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate