A phase II trial of methotrexate, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in the treatment of invasive and metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The current treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma generates high response rates but is associated with poor overall survival. The current study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a new combination of active drugs in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with muscle invasive or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were enrolled. Fifteen patients (63%) had metastatic disease whereas 9 patients had T2-T4 disease. Three patients were unevaluable for response because of significant toxicity. Patients were treated every 28 days with methotrexate, 60 mg/m(2), intravenously (i.v.) on Day 1; cisplatin, 25 mg/m(2)/day, by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 2-6; 5-flurouracil (5-FU) 800 mg/m(2)/day by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 3-6; and leucovorin, 500 mg/m(2)/day, by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 2-6. Dosage in subsequent cycles was adjusted according to toxicity.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 81 months (range, 53-97+ months). The overall response rate (complete response + partial response) for all 24 patients was 63% (95% confidence interval, 41-81%). The median survival was 65 months in the patients with muscle invasive disease and 17 months in the patients with metastatic disease. The duration of response in patients with metastatic disease was 6 months (range, 4-19 months). Toxicity was significant, with 82% of patients experiencing Common Toxicity Criteria Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and 63% experiencing Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. However, only three patients developed febrile neutropenia and gastrointestinal and neurologic toxicity was moderate.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of methotrexate, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin represents an active regimen in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma with a moderate toxicity profile. As new drugs are found to treat urothelial carcinoma, further studies will be needed to evaluate the role of traditional agents such as 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate in new combination chemotherapeutic regimens.
Oh
W K
WK
Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Manola
J
J
Richie
J P
JP
Loughlin
K R
KR
Kantoff
P W
PW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015996:Survival Rate; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate