A phase II study of gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in advanced bilharzial bladder carcinoma.
Bilharzial bladder cancer represents a distinct clinicopathological entity. To investigate whether gemcitabine-cisplatin is also active against bladder cancer of bilharzial origin, we performed a phase II study of previously untreated patients with stage III/IV disease. Standard eligibility criteria were used. Patients received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8 and 15 and cisplatin (70 mg/m(2)) on day 2 of every 28-day cycle. The 32 males and 5 females had a median age of 59 years (range: 29-81 years). Of 33 evaluable patients, 8 (24%) achieved complete responses, and 10 (30%) partial responses, for an overall response rate of 55%. 3 patients had minor responses. Responses were observed at all disease sites including lung and liver lesions. Myelosuppression was significant but manageable. Non-haematological toxicity was limited mainly to nausea and vomiting and raised liver enzymes. Thus, these data suggest that gemcitabine plus cisplatin induces high response rates in patients with bilharzial bladder cancer with a moderate toxicity profile.
Khaled
H M
HM
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, University, Cairo, Egypt. khaled@brainy1.ie-eg.com
Hamza
M R
MR
Mansour
O
O
Gaafar
R
R
Zaghloul
M S
MS
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; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine