[Bladder cancer chemotherapy practice study].
OBJECTIVE
To study chemotherapy practice in invasive bladder cancer in a cancer centre (Centre Léon Bérard).


METHODS
This retrospective study concerned all patients treated by chemotherapy between 1994 and 2000, either in the adjuvant setting (38) or for metastatic disease (66).


RESULTS
Twenty four of the 38 patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were treated with MVAC, 21% developed febrile neutropenia and 60% relapsed. The median recurrence-free survival was 12 months. In patients treated for metastatic disease, the objective response rate was 36% and the median survival with advanced disease after chemotherapy was 10 months. These results are in line with those reported in large-scale randomized trials. The toxicity of chemotherapy was also fairly high (21% of febrile neutropenia).


CONCLUSIONS
Prospective studies help to optimize chemotherapy protocols, but practice studies show the limited results and the high toxicity. The benefit/risk ratio must be carefully considered.
Clippe
Christine
C
Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France. christine.clippe@chu-lyon.fr
Clippe
Sébastien
S
Yzebe
Delphine
D
Flechon
Aude
A
Droz
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate