Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive bladder cancer: update of a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data advanced bladder cancer (ABC) meta-analysis collaboration.
OBJECTIVE
To update a systematic review and meta-analysis that assesses the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with invasive bladder cancer.


METHODS
Following a prespecified protocol, we analysed updated individual patient data from all eligible randomised controlled trials that compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus local treatment with the same local treatment alone.


RESULTS
Updated results are based on 11 trials, 3005 patients; comprising 98% of all patients from known eligible randomised controlled trials. We found a significant survival benefit associated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (HR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.95, p = 0.003). This is equivalent to a 5% absolute improvement in survival at 5 years. There was also a significant disease-free survival benefit associated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (HR = 0.78 95% CI 0.71-0.86, p < 0.0001), equivalent to a 9% absolute improvement at 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide the best available evidence in support of the use of neoadjuvant platinum-based combination chemotherapy.
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy