title: Response to induction chemotherapy and surgery in non-organ confined bladder cancer: a single institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of patients with locally advanced muscle-invasive and/or lymph node positive bladder cancer treated with induction chemotherapy and additional surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who were treated with induction chemotherapy in our institution between 1990 and 2010, were retrospectively evaluated using an institutional database. Induction chemotherapy consisted of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC), or a combination of gemcitabine with either cisplatin or carboplatin (GC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 152 patients were identified, with a mean age of 59 years (range 31-76). One hundred and seven patients (70.4%) received MVAC, 35 patients received GC (23.0%) and 10 patients received GC after initial treatment with MVAC (6.6%). Median follow-up was 68 months (range 4-187 months). Overall 125 patients (82.2%) underwent cystectomy, whereas 12 patients (7.9%) received radiotherapy. Fifteen patients had no local treatment. Median overall survival was 18 months (95%CI 15-23 months). In 37.5% of patients with complete clinical response, residual disease was found at surgery (positive predictive value, PPV 62.5%). Complete pathological response was seen in 26.3% of patients, with a 5 year overall survival (OS) estimate of 54% (39%-74%). For patients with persisting node positive disease after induction chemotherapy and surgery OS was significantly worse (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete clinical and/or pathological response to induction chemotherapy results in a significant survival benefit. The accuracy of the current clinical response evaluation after induction chemotherapy is limited. Although surgery may be important for staging and prognostic purposes, its role is unclear in node positive disease after induction chemotherapy.
authors: Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Postbus 90203, 1006 BE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: R P
authors: RP
authors: Meijer
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Nieuwenhuijzen
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Meinhardt
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bex
authors: H G
authors: HG
authors: van der Poel
authors: B W
authors: BW
authors: van Rhijn
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Kerst
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Bergman
authors: E
authors: E
authors: van Werkhoven
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Horenblas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015653:Cystectomy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*