title: Current chemotherapeutic strategies against bladder cancer.
abstract: Urothelial cancer is a chemotherapy-sensitive malignancy, with the regimen of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (M-VAC) until recently considered to be the first choice for chemotherapy. Poor survival and substantial toxicity associated with M-VAC have led to investigations into alternative chemotherapy strategies, and the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) may be promising. In addition, combination chemotherapy of taxanes along with gemcitabine and/or platinum-based agents is also considered to provide clinical benefits as second-line chemotherapy following M-VAC or GC therapy. In the near future, results of trials using molecular target therapies may bring improved outcomes for patients with bladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Shimane 89-1, Enya-cho, Izumo 693-8501, Japan. mitsui@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yozo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasumoto
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arichi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiina
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Igawa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents