Sequential adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection of high-risk urothelial carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Despite definitive surgery, the survival of patients with high-risk urothelial carcinoma (UC) is poor. Adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be beneficial, but it is restricted by the need for normal renal function (RF). Sequential administration of adjuvant chemotherapy facilitates drug delivery and improves survival in patients with breast cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and survival impact of adjuvant, sequential chemotherapy in patients with high-risk UC.


METHODS
Fifty patients were treated on 2 simultaneous protocols between 1997 and 2004. The patients on Protocol A (normal RF) received doxorubicin and gemcitabine (AG) followed by paclitaxel and cisplatin. The patients on Protocol B (impaired RF) received AG followed by paclitaxel plus carboplatin. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were compared with a group of 203 contemporary control patients who had similar pathology and RF and who underwent surgery alone.


RESULTS
The median follow-up of protocol patients was 6.5 years (range, 0.9-8.6 years), and 25 patients remained alive. The median follow-up of the control group was 4.7 years (0.0-9.2), and 68 patients remained alive. The median OS for patients on Protocol A was greater than that for controls who had good RF (4.6 years vs 2.5 years; P = .03). The median OS for patients on Protocol B was greater than that for controls who had impaired RF (3.4 years vs 2 years; P = .04). DSS for the protocol and matched control groups was similar (good RF: 4.6 years vs 3 years; P = .24; impaired RF: 3.4 years vs 3.3 years; P = .40).


CONCLUSIONS
In this nonrandomized study, adjuvant, sequential chemotherapy for patients with high-risk UC did not improve DSS over that observed with surgery alone.
Gallagher
David J
DJ
Genitourinary Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Milowsky
Matthew I
MI
Iasonos
Alexia
A
Maluf
Fernando C
FC
Russo
Paul
P
Dalbagni
Guido
G
Donat
Machele S
MS
Boyle
Mary G
MG
Zheng
Junting
J
Riches
Jamie
J
Bajorin
Dean F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012306:Risk; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*