title: Gemcitabine and cisplatin in locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer; 3- or 4-week schedule?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) is an active regimen in advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Traditionally, GC has been administered as a 4-week schedule. However, an alternative 3-week schedule may be more feasible. Long-term survival data for the alternative 3-week schedule and comparisons of the feasibility and toxicity between the two schedules have not previously been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with stage IV TCC, treated with GC by a standard 4-week or by an alternative 3-week schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 212 patients received GC (3-week; n = 151, 4-week; n = 61). We found no statistical differences in overall survival between the two schedules (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 0.83-1.59), p = 0.40). Five-year survival rates were 14.9% and 11.8% for the 3- and 4-week schedule, respectively (p = 0.94). Response rates were 59.7% and 55.6%, respectively (p = 0.61). Toxicity was less pronounced in the 3-week schedule with regards to neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and transfusion rates. Hematologic toxicity at day 15 in the 4-week schedule was common, leading to dose omissions in 47% of cycles. Dose intensity for gemcitabine was accordingly lower in the 4 week-schedule. The higher dose intensity of cisplatin in the 3-week schedule, did not lead to increased renal toxicity. In 13 patients with impaired renal function, cisplatin was split into 2 days, which was feasible and efficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efficacy parameters for the GC 3-week schedule were comparable to those for the 4-week schedule, whereas toxicity was less pronounced. The 3-week schedule may be an effective and feasible alternative GC-schedule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. abals@as.aaa.dk
authors.forename: Anne Birgitte
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Als
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sengelov
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Von Der Maase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine