Neo-adjuvant treatment of infiltrating transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder with paclitaxel and cisplatin: a phase II trial.
BACKGROUND
A phase II multicentric trial of paclitaxel and cisplatin was conducted in previously untreated patients, with locally advanced transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, to assess its toxicity and efficiency in preserving the bladder.


METHODS
Forty-four patients with locally advanced TCC of the bladder (seven with T3a, 27 with T3b, and eight with T4a) were treated with paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) over 3 h, and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) over 30 min, on the first day of each 21-day treatment cycle. Therapy was continued for three cycles. Patients were re-evaluated and scheduled for radiotheraphy or radical surgery depending on tumoral response. Tumoral response was measured by citology, computed tomographical scans, and deep randomized biopsies of the bladder.


RESULTS
Thirty-two out of 42 patients (76%; 95% confidence interval 45-93%) showed a major response (22 complete, and 10 partial). Response times ranged from 18 to 54 months. Three patients with T4 bladder primary tumors experienced a pathological CR. At a median follow-up of three years, 20 patients remain free of disease (47.6%), six patients are alive with disease (14.3%), 12 patients died of disease (28.5%), and four others died of unrelated causes (9.5%). Hematological toxicity included anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. No grade four febrile neutropenia was observed. Non-hematological toxicity included alopecia (93.2%), diarrhea (11.4%), vomiting (18.5%) mucosytis (4.6%), and neuropathy (4.6%). Drug omissions or dose delay for adverse events were only necessary in one patient (2.2%), and three patients (6.8%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel and cisplatin is an active and well-tolerated neo-adjuvant regimen for previously untreated patients with pure TCC of the bladder, achieving a vesical preservation rate of 52%.
Sousa-Escandon
Alejandro
A
Department of Urology, Comarcal Hospital of Monforte, 27400 Monforte de Lemos, Lugo, Spain.
Vazquez
Sergio
S
Quintero-Aldana
Guillermo
G
Picallo
Jose A
JA
Neira
Javier
J
Garcia-Novio
Francisco
F
Mateo
A
A
Rico
Manuel
M
Mel
Jose R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin