title: Combined systemic chemotherapy and irradiation of muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.
abstract: A phase II study is presented, which encompasses the period June 1987 until July 1993, and includes 53 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer T2-4b who, due to age and/or poor health (37 cases) or primarily extensive lesions (18 cases), were considered inoperable and for whom treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin/methotrexate/leucovorin rescue) and radical irradiation was planned. The total number of intended chemotherapy courses could be delivered without undue toxicity to 46 patients (83%) and 44 subsequently underwent radiotherapy: this modality was, by and large, well tolerated. The primary transurethral resection and chemotherapy produced an objective response in 62% of the 53 patients and in 75% of the 44 evaluable patients. The combined programme produced an objective response in 83% of the 37 evaluable patients, 71% in the 44 patients who completed the combined programme and in 59% of the total group of 53 patients. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 62 months. Radiotherapy increased the total objective response rate, proving effective in approximately 50% of patients who did not respond to chemotherapy. The results of this study are regarded as promising and pave the way for a phase III trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Akademiska sjukhuset, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Letocha
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Malmström
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rikner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D008727:Methotrexate