Paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer: results of a phase II trial.
The present phase II trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium. Twenty patients (age range 50-79 years; inclusion criteria: WHO performance status 0-2, no previous cytotoxic treatment) with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium were recruited and received cytotoxic treatment with paclitaxel at a dosage of 175 mg m(-2) administered over a 3-h infusion and carboplatin given at an AUC of 5 mg ml(-1) min (according to creatinine clearance) administered every 21 days. A total of 65% of patients achieved remissions (CR+PR), with CR occurring in 40% of patients. A further 15% of patients experienced stable disease. Remissions occurred after 2.4 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- standard deviation; range two to four) treatment cycles. The mean duration of responses (CR+PR) was 8.5 +/- 5.5 months. After a mean observation period of 11.4 +/- 4.8 months, 16 patients (80%) are alive. Toxicity included alopecia of WHO grade 3 in all patients, leucopenia of WHO grades 1 and 2 in ten patients, grade 3 in eight and grade 4 in two patients and, finally, severe thrombocytopenia grade 3 in only three patients. Non-haematological toxicity consisted of polyneuropathy of WHO grade 1 in 13 patients and grade 2 in five patients. We thus conclude that a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin at the given dosage and schedule constitutes an active, well-tolerated first-line cytotoxic treatment for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.
Chair for Medical Experimental Oncology and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical Experimental Oncology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
C C
CC
Zielinski
B
B
Schnack
M
M
Grbovic
T
T
Brodowicz
C
C
Wiltschke
G
G
Steger
H
H
Pflüger
M
M
Marberger
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel