Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive bladder cancer: the evolving role of surgery

A New Regimen of Cisplatin, Epirubicin and Methotrexate (PEM-3) as Primary Chemothfrapy for Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer

In this phase II study, 41 patients with locally advanced urothelial bladder cancer (T2-4, NO, MO) were treated with primary chemotherapy (cisplatin, epirubicin, methotrexate: PEM-3). All the patients were assessable for response and toxicity. Clinical monitoring was performed with computerized tomography and cystoscopy. Nineteen clinical complete remissions (46%) and 10 partial remissions (24.5%) were obtained (CR + PR, 70.5%; 95% confidence interval, 57%-85%). Ten patients were considered to have clinically stable disease (24.5%), and 2 patients progressed (5%). Surgery after chemotherapy was performed in 22 cases: in 6 patients (27%) a pathologic complete response was achieved. The pathologic stage was lower than the initial clinical stage in 13 patients (59%). After a median follow-up of 3 years (range, 1-4), the median time to progression was 104 weeks. At this writing, 20 patients, 12 of which were submitted to surgery and 8 were not operated, are disease-free. The 3-year survival rate is 52%. No one had to interrupt the treatment because of toxicity. In conclusion, the PEM-3 regimen is a very active and well-tolerated regimen in locally advanced bladder cancer.

Conservative Treatment for T2-T4 Bladder Cancer with Primary Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: A Pilot Study

Aims and Background

After radical cystectomy, with or without pelvic radiotherapy, more than 50 % of patients affected by infiltrating bladder cancer died of distant metastases. Polychemotherapy yields 25 % complete remissions (CR) in patients with invasive transitional cell bladder carcinoma; although many concerns exist about the duration of such CR. This study was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the efficacy and safety of an integrated chemo-radio-therapeutic treatment, in order to broaden indications to a conservative surgical therapy.

Methods

Thirty-three consecutive patients with bladder urothelial cancer T2-T4, N0, M0, have been treated. Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (rescue-M-VEC) consisted of methotrexate 30 mg/sqm plus folinic acid 15 mg after 24 h on days 1, 15, 22; vinblastine 3 mg/sqm on days 1, 15 and 22; epidoxorubicin 30 mg/sqm on day 1; cisplatin 70 mg/sqm on day 1. This cycle was repeated on day 29. After 2 cycles of rescue-M-VEC, patients underwent pelvic cobalt teletherapy 40 Gy combined with low dose cisplatin 25 mg/sqm/week. After restaging, responding patients underwent further radiation therapy (24 Gy) as booster consolidation.

Results

After 2 cycles of chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy 14/31 evaluable patients (45.2 %) achieved CR and 11/31 (35.4 %) partial remission, with an overall response rate of 80.6 % (25/31). With a median follow up of 21 months the actuarial survival rate at 24 months was equal to 79.8 %. Eleven radical cystectomies were performed, 6 of which at restaging in non responding patients and 5 during the follow up due to relapse. Of the 25 patients selected for bladder conservation, 12 (48 %) have not yet shown relapses. Three out of 31 (9.7 %) patients died of distant metastases. No severe toxicity has been observed: moreover no patient developed stomatitis after chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Our results seem encouraging but longer follow-up and further phase III studies need to be carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of conservative treatment in muscle infiltrating bladder cancer.

The role of transcavitary ultrasonography in diagnosis and staging of nonmuscle-ınvasive bladder cancer: a prospective non-randomized clinical study

To evaluate the efficacy of cystoscopy, computed tomography (CT), transcavitary ultrasound (TCUS) and cytology, separately and in combination, for the diagnosis and evaluation of superficial bladder cancer.

Initial cystoscopy and wash-out cytology were performed for 1548 patients. Of these, 206 with proven bladder tumors were included in this prospective study. CT and TCUS were performed for patients with bladder tumors without knowledge of their cystoscopy results. The lesions were classified as low- (pTa) and high- (pT1) risk superficial tumors according to multiplicity and size.

Patients were divided into three categories according to their cystoscopically evaluated tumor size: ≤1 cm (88 patients, 42.7%), 1–3 cm (51 patients, 24.8%) and ≥3 cm (67 patients, 32.5%). TCUS identified 46 (22.3%) high-risk patients with/without invasion and 160 (77.7%) low-risk patients with no invasion. Overall, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of TCUS for tumor detection were 77.4%, 60%, 94.7% and 22.2%, respectively.

Cystoscopy remains the most widely used technique for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The combined use of CT, TCUS and cytology detected 72% of cystoscopically proven tumors. Among the three, TCUS findings exhibited the strongest correlation with cystoscopy findings.

Cancer/testis antigens and urological malignancies

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are a group of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) that display normal expression in the adult testis--an immune-privileged organ--but aberrant expression in several types of cancers, particularly in advanced cancers with stem cell-like characteristics. There has been an explosion in CTA-based research since CTAs were first identified in 1991 and MAGE-1 was shown to elicit an autologous cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in a patient with melanoma. The resulting data have not only highlighted a role for CTAs in tumorigenesis, but have also underscored the translational potential of these antigens for detecting and treating many types of cancers. Studies that have investigated the use of CTAs for the clinical management of urological malignancies indicate that these TAAs have potential roles as novel biomarkers, with increased specificity and sensitivity compared to those currently used in the clinic, and therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy. Increasing evidence supports the utilization of these promising tools for urological indications.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive bladder cancer

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer has been clarified by recent randomized studies and meta-analyses, which all showed that cisplatin-based, combination chemotherapy offers a significant survival advantage. Preoperative chemotherapy results in downstaging in a significant percentage of patients, which is an independent factor of favorable prognosis. Nevertheless, the optimal sequence of perioperative chemotherapy remains undefined. The authors examine the results of large Phase II and randomized studies as well as the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the context of bladder preservation strategies. Finally, issues of improving therapeutic efficacy and directing clinical research are discussed.

Nodal Involvement in Bladder Cancer

There are many controversies about the actual meaning of nodal involvement in bladder cancer and, subsequently, about the real benefit of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in patients with positive nodes at the time of cystectomy.

In this article we reviewed the literature about the role of nodal involvement and the impact of positive nodes on the prognosis.

The finding of positive nodes after radical cystectomy and PLND makes generally consider bladder cancer as a systemic disease and it is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore many urologists don't perform radical surgery in patients with positive nodes at time of cystectomy.

P category, N category, and distant metastases are the most important factors in determining the outcome of patients with bladder cancer with nodal involvment. PLND is necessary for accurate staging in bladder cancer and appears to benefit patients with limited nodal involvement.

PLND should be considered as a standard procedure that should be performed in every patient with indication of surgical treatment for TCC of the bladder.

Southwest Oncology Group studies in bladder cancer

Over 50,000 patients are diagnosed annually with bladder cancer, and approximately 10,000 eventually will die of their disease. Thus, the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Genitourinary Cancer Committee is committed to the study of therapeutic interventions in patients with superficial, invasive, and metastatic bladder cancer. In the past 15 years, SWOG has completed six Phase III, randomized trials. Studies in patients with superficial disease have established the role of bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patient management; and a large, randomized trial has outlined the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy in patients with advanced disease. SWOG plans to build on this model by evaluating patients with residual disease after chemotherapy for possible bladder preservation while evaluating more chemotherapy for patients with persistent disease. The Genitourinary Cancer Committee will continue to seek new, active agents for metastatic disease and will participate in and support large, Phase III, international trials that seek to improve current regimens. SWOG accomplishments in bladder cancer are highlighted, and future strategies are discussed.

Presurgical chemotherapy compared with immediate surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for nonmetastatic osteosarcoma: Pediatric Oncology Group Study POG-8651

PURPOSE

Successful therapeutic interventions to prevent disease progression in patients with nonmetastatic osteosarcoma have included surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy. Presurgical chemotherapy has been advocated for these patients because of putative improvement in event-free survival (EFS). The advantages of presurgical chemotherapy include early administration of systemic chemotherapy, shrinkage of primary tumor, and pathologic identification of risk groups. The theoretic disadvantage is that it exposes a large tumor burden to marginally effective chemotherapy. The contribution of chemotherapy and surgery timing has not been tested rigorously.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1986 and 1993, we conducted a prospective trial in patients with nonmetastatic osteosarcoma who were assigned randomly to immediate surgery or presurgical chemotherapy. Except for the timing of surgery (week 0 or 10), patients received 44 weeks of identical combination chemotherapy that included high-dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, doxorubicin, cisplatin, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, and dactinomycin.

RESULTS

One hundred six patients were enrolled onto this study. Six were excluded from analysis. Of the remaining 100 patients, 45 were randomly assigned to immediate chemotherapy, and 55 were randomly assigned to immediate surgery. Sixty-seven patients remain disease-free. At 5 years, the projected EFS +/- SE is 65% +/- 6% (69% +/- 8% for immediate surgery and 61% +/- 8% for presurgical chemotherapy; P =.8). The treatment arms had similar incidence of limb salvage (55% for immediate surgery and 50% for presurgical chemotherapy).

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy was effective in both treatment groups. There was no advantage in EFS for patients given presurgical chemotherapy.

Localized and locally advanced bladder cancer

Localized and locally advanced bladder cancer represents a heterogeneous spectrum of diseases with different biologic and clinical behavior. It varies with respect to invasive potential, propensity for metastases, and sensitivity to chemotherapy. Although several significant surgical advances have been made over the past 20 years in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, resulting in decreases in perioperative morbidity and mortality and improvement of quality of life in patients with continent urinary diversions, the natural history of the disease has remained unaltered. Advances in chemotherapy for metastatic disease have prompted trials of systemic therapy in patients with early stage, high-risk disease administered before or after local therapy consisting of cystectomy or radiotherapy. The data available from nonrandomized and randomized trials have not definitively established the exact role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its impact on survival. Even if neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not improve survival, preliminary data suggest that bladder preservation may be possible in selected patients and that such combined therapy will hopefully lead to better patient management. The trials of postoperative chemotherapy provide insufficient evidence to support the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy in clinical practice as a result of small sample size, confusing analyses, and the reporting of questionable conclusions. New large-scale, multicenter trials are imperative to provide convincing results. A better understanding of the microbiology of bladder cancer will influence the search for new therapeutic modalities. Molecular-targeted small-molecule therapy and monoclonal antibodies have begun to dominate contemporary studies.

Trans-urethral whole layer core biopsy for detection of residual tumor after neoadjuvant therapy in invasive bladder cancer

The most essential information necessary for the treatment of bladder cancer is to know its exact staging. We have developed a percutaneous whole layer core biopsy (PC-WLCB) of the bladder tumor and applied it successfully since April 1985 for the staging and evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy in locally invasive bladder cancer. We report here a modified method, the trans-urethral WLCB (TU-WLCB) and present its clinical results. Methods: A 20 F. rigid nephroscope was introduced trans-urethrally and an 18 gauge, 350mm-long biopsy needle or newly developed 450mm-long biopsy needle was advanced to the tumor through the nephroscope. Biopsy was performed under trans-abdominal ultrasound guidance. Results: Specimens of all 20 TU-WLCB cases included the muscle layer and adipose tissue, and demonstrated small focus of residual cancers after neoadjuvant therapy. Serious complications were not observed so far. Conclusion: TU-WLCB may prove to be a reliable method to stage and evaluate neoadjuvant therapy for invasive bladder cancer.

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy MVAC in the treatment of infiltrating bladder carcinoma]

INTRODUCTION

Aiming to preserve the bladder in patients with infiltrative carcinoma of the bladder and to offer patients improved quality of life with no detriment for survival, a therapeutical protocol was set up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between August 1988 and January 1997 63 patients with stage T2 and T3a infiltrative carcinoma of the bladder, with no metastasis or node extension detectable with imaging techniques were treated in our unit. 45 of these patients met all protocol criteria and were given 3 neoadjuvant chemotherapy courses with MVAC (methotrexate, vincristine, adriamycin, cisplatin).

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age under 75 years, Karnofsky greater than 50%, leucocytes greater than 2,500 cell/mL and platelet greater than 100,000/mL. Following chemotherapy, re-assessment was performed through lab tests, chest X-rays, abdomino-pelvic CT, bone scanning, cystoscopy, multiple randomized biopsies, tumoral bed scar resection and resection of relapsed urothelioma. Patients with complete remission were given radiotherapy. Those showing stabilisation of progression were proposed to undergo cystectomy. Fisher's test or chi 2 test were used for the comparison of qualitative variables. The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The curves comparison was done with Breslow's exact test. A Cox's proportional risk method allowed to calculate the relative risks together with their 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

53.7% patients included in this protocol showed complete remission, 41.5% stable disease and 4.9% progression. 62.2% of patients were given radiotherapy versus 17.8% who underwent cystectomy. 20% received other therapies after rejecting both cystectomy or radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 43.38 months. Overall median survival was 96 months. The accumulate probability of survival at 4 years was 79%. 50% patients with complete clinical response relapsed during follow-up. Tumoral stage of those who relapsed was lower than the initial one in 63.7% cases, remained the same in 18.2%, and higher in 18.2%. With regards to grading, 66.7% patients had lower grading at relapse if tumour was initially grade 2. For those with initial tumour grade 3, only 20% had a lower grade.

CONCLUSION

64.4% patients retained their bladder. In 26.7% there was demonstrable metastatic disease. No differences were seen in the distribution or survival time based on the different treatment given after chemotherapy (p = 0.22). Patients with complete remission after chemotherapy have greater actuarial survival which is statistically significant (p = 0.04).

Predicting extravesical extension of bladder carcinoma: a novel method based on micrometer measurement of the depth of invasion in transurethral resection specimens

OBJECTIVES

Patients with bladder cancer and extravesical extension (Stage T3 or greater) have worse survival than those with organ-confined cancer. We sought to determine whether the depth of invasion in transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) specimens will predict extravesical extension in patients treated by radical cystectomy.

METHODS

We studied 90 patients diagnosed with invasive bladder carcinoma between 1979 and 1984. The 1997 TNM (tumor, lymph node, metastasis) system was used for pathologic staging. The mean patient age was 65 years (range 44 to 78). The male/female ratio was 5:1. All patients had invasive bladder cancer at TURB. Muscle invasion was identified in 35 patients (39%) and lamina propria invasion was present in 55 patients (61%) in the TURB specimens. The depth of invasion in the TURB specimens was measured by an ocular micrometer. All patients were treated by radical cystectomy. The median interval from TURB to cystectomy was 44 days (range 2 to 159). Extravesical extension (Stage T3 or greater) at cystectomy was present in 39 patients (43%).

RESULTS

The depth of invasion was associated with final pathologic stage (Spearman correlation r = 0. 58, P <0.001). The overall accuracy of the depth of invasion for the prediction of extravesical extension, measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was 0.81 (standard error 0. 045). The mean depth of invasion among patients with extravesical extension at cystectomy was 4.0 mm compared with 2.2 mm for those without extravesical extension. On the basis of a 4.0-mm cutoff point, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for extravesical extension were 54%, 90%, 81%, and 72%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a bladder cancer depth of invasion greater than 4 mm in the TURB specimens, as measured by micrometer, are likely to have extravesical extension, and more aggressive treatment should be considered.

Grading and staging of bladder carcinoma in transurethral resection specimens. Correlation with 105 matched cystectomy specimens

We compared the grading and staging of transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) and cystectomy specimens for 105 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma between 1980 and 1984. Of 105 patients, 96% underwent cystectomy within 100 days of TURB (median interval, 10 days). Grading was performed according to the 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathology grading system and staging according to the 1997 TNM classification. Histologic grade was low-grade, 13; high-grade, 92 in TURB specimens; low-grade, 17; high-grade, 88 in cystectomy specimens. Pathologic stage was Ta, 15; T1, 55; and T2, 35 in TURB specimens; Ta, 5; T1, 19; T2, 19; T3, 46; and T4, 16 in cystectomy specimens. Histologic grade at TURB was associated with pathologic stage at cystectomy (P < .001). When all advanced-stage (muscle-invasive) carcinomas (pT2 or more) were considered together, 55 patients were understaged by TURB, 4 had higher stage in TURB than in cystectomy, and 46 were the same stage as by cystectomy. Forty-three of 55 patients with stage T1 carcinoma at TURB had advanced-stage carcinoma at cystectomy, including 34 who had extravesicular extension (pT3 or more). We found pathologic understanding by TURB occurs in a significant number of patients with bladder cancer; the newly proposed grading system predicted final pathologic stage.

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and bladder preservation in locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

BACKGROUND

The possibility of bladder preservation as well as the utility of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer are controversial issues. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of neo-adjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy and bladder preservation in patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-seven consecutive evaluable patients with T2-T4aNxM0 TCC of the bladder were treated with three cycles of neo-adjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy. After three cycles of M-VAC, 42 patients had TURB alone, 13 patients underwent partial cystectomy, and 32 patients were to undergo radical cystectomy.

RESULTS

Forty (51%) patients were T0 at the TURB following M-VAC. Thirty (71%) patients who had chemotherapy and TURB alone are alive; at a median follow-up of 54+ months (8(+)-109+). Twenty-four (57%) have maintained an intact bladder. Of 13 responding patients with monofocal lesions who underwent partial cystectomy, 8 patients (62%) are alive with a functioning bladder, at a median follow-up of 80+ months (16-107+ months). At a follow-up of 32 months (7-121+ months), 20 (63%) patients in the radical cystectomy group are alive. In patients who had downstaging to T0 or superficial disease, median follow-up is 55 months (10-121+ months) and five-year survival is 71%. Patients who failed to respond (T2 or greater after chemotherapy), at a median follow-up of 24 months (7-103+ months), had five-year survival of only 29%.

CONCLUSIONS

Bladder sparing in selected patients on the basis of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is a feasible approach which must be confirmed in prospective randomized trials.

Substaging of T1 bladder carcinoma based on the depth of invasion as measured by micrometer: A new proposal

BACKGROUND

A significant number of T1 bladder carcinoma patients are understaged by transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB), indicating a substantial need for more accurate staging.

METHODS

The authors studied 55 patients with T1 bladder carcinoma detected by TURB at the Mayo Clinic between December 1979 and July 1984. The mean age of the patients was 66 years (range, 50-78 years). All patients were treated by cystectomy. The median interval from TURB to cystectomy was 10 days. Grading was performed according to the 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathology grading system. The 1997 TNM classification was used for pathologic staging. In addition, the depth of invasion was measured from the mucosal basement membrane by micrometer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the usefulness of depth of invasion as a marker for advanced stage bladder carcinoma (>/= T2).

RESULTS

The final pathologic stages were Ta (2 patients), T1 (10 patients), T2a (9 patients), T2b (13 patients), T3 (11 patients), and T4 (10 patients) at cystectomy. There was a significant correlation between the depth of invasion at TURB and the final pathologic stage (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.63; P < 0.001). The overall accuracy for the prediction of advanced stage (>/= T2) bladder carcinoma as measured by the area under the ROC curve was 0.89 (standard error, 0.05). Using 1.5 mm as a threshold (with >1.5 mm indicating advanced stage disease), the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 81%, 83%, 95%, and 56%, respectively. Histologic grade at the time of TURB also was associated significantly with final pathologic stage at cystectomy (P = 0.03) whereas stratification of patients according to invasion above or below the muscularis mucosae at TURB was not a significant predictor of final pathologic stage.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study show that substaging of T1 bladder carcinoma according to the depth of invasion (as measured by micrometer) provides significant prognostic information. Therefore the authors recommend that it be reported in specimens obtained by TURB.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (MVAC) in locally invasive bladder cancer

In order to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder a retrospective analysis was performed. 54 patients without distant metastases (T2-T3b, N0-X, M0) received 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to the MVAC protocol (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) after transurethral resection (TUR) followed by cystectomy. 52 patients had previously undergone cystectomy immediately after TUR. Complete histopathological remission was observed in 9 patients (17.3%) after TUR and in 17 patients (31.5%) after TUR+MVAC. Neoadjuvant MVAC resulted, therefore, in a 14% higher rate of complete remissions. The overall response to TUR was significantly improved by MVAC therapy. Downstaging by neoadjuvant chemotherapy was more readily achieved in initially low-stage tumours (T2: 44.4% and 30.8%, T3a: 47.1% and 19%, T3b: 5.3% and 5.5% in patients receiving TUR+MVAC and TUR alone, respectively). Overall survival did not differ significantly between both groups. Patients who were successfully downstaged to pT0 had a significantly better prognosis, and patients resistant to chemotherapy had the poorest prognosis, showing the shortest survival. In conclusion, histopathological response at cystectomy was improved by neoadjuvant MVAC chemotherapy after TUR and can be expected to be prognostically relevant in those patients who can be downstaged to T0, although overall survival failed to be significantly increased in this relatively small patient sample.

Primary methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin chemotherapy and bladder preservation in locally invasive bladder cancer: a 5-year followup

A phase 2 protocol was designed for conservative treatment of muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and consisted of primary methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by bladder sparing surgical reevaluation and surveillance. Of 36 patients 30 completed the protocol and were followed for at least 5 years. Initial complete response to chemotherapy was noted in 14 patients (47%, 95% confidence interval 30 to 64%) and complete responses were more common with low stage tumors. After chemotherapy the bladder was preserved in 18 patients (60%) but at 5 years only 6 (20%, 95% confidence interval 6 to 34%) were alive with the bladder intact. Bladder preservation was possible only in the complete response group. The long-term followup showed that after 5 years 16 patients (53%) were alive and 15 (50%, 95% confidence interval 32 to 68%) were disease-free. When patients were stratified according to the type of response to chemotherapy, the 5-year disease-free survival was 79% versus 25% for the complete response and the partial or no response groups, respectively (p < 0.01). According to these results and considering the highly selective nature of our study, primary methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin chemotherapy compared to standard treatments does not improve the overall survival rate, nor does it allow for bladder preservation in most cases of locally invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. This approach seems only to segregate patients with a greater chance for long-term survival in the complete response group and a poor outcome for partial/no response patients regardless of early salvage bladder extirpation.

CMV front-line chemotherapy in transitional bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Despite standard treatment, surgery and/or radiotherapy, most patients with muscle invasive bladder carcinoma die early of distant metastasis. CMV chemotherapy has demonstrated a high response rate with moderate toxicity in advanced bladder carcinoma. In an attempt to eradicate undetectable metastatic disease and to avoid cystectomies, 36 patients were given up-front CMV.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patients were 34 males and 2 females with a median age of 62 years (45-75); performance status 0-1 (WHO) in 34 patients; histology: 34 transitional carcinomas and 2 anaplastic carcinomas (grade II: 8, grade III: 28). Clinical staging was T2-3a: 19 patients, T3b: 14 patients and T4: 3 patients. Nineteen patients had complete trans-urethral resections (TUR) at diagnosis. The multimodal protocol started with 3 CMV courses (cisplatin 100 mg/m2 i.v. d 1, methotrexate 30 mg/m2 i.v. d 1, 8 and vinblastine 4 mg/m2 i.v. d 1, 8 every 3 weeks). Patients who yielded clinical complete responses (cCR) by cystoscopy, TUR biopsies and imaging techniques were given 3 additional courses. Cystectomy was performed in non-cCR patients and as salvage treatment.

RESULTS

Following 3 CMV cycles, 29 patients (81%) responded (20 cCR and 9 cPR) and 7 (19%) did not (NR). Currently, with a median follow-up of 23.5 months (13-59), 13 have died and 23 are alive, 12 of whom retain their bladders. The projected overall survival is 51% at 4.5 years. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity was presented in 8% of the cycles. No toxic deaths were observed.

CONCLUSION

The CMV regimen, after TUR, produces a high response rate with tolerable toxicity. Bladders could be preserved in half of the CR patients.

Cystectomy and substitution enterocystoplasty: alternative primary treatment for T2/3 bladder cancer

The optimal treatment for invasive bladder cancer remains controversial. Although external beam radiotherapy is able to eradicate the disease in a number of patients, the difficulty is selecting those who will respond. Those who do develop a local recurrence will require a salvage cystectomy combined with urinary diversion. The results of performing cystectomy and bladder reconstruction as a primary procedure are presented and the concept of combining this with chemotherapy as an alternative strategy for the management of bladder cancer is discussed.

Use of methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin in combination with radiation and hyperthermia as neo-adjuvant therapy for bladder cancer

In an attempt to improve the poor prognosis of invasive and/or high-grade bladder cancer after total cystectomy, we tried a combination of regional irradiation with hyperthermia (RH) therapy and systemic M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin) chemotherapy followed by surgery. The short-term results of these treatments were evaluated. A total of 17 patients received the combination of RH and M-VAC therapy between January 1989 and July 1990, and 12 then underwent total cystectomy. Of the 17 patients, 14 were evaluable for tumor response. The objective response rate was 64% (9/14), with 4 patients achieving a complete remission that was confirmed by histological examination. Nausea and vomiting were inevitable, and 71% (12/17) of the patients developed leukopenia. However, these side effects were not serious. Considering the previous results obtained using RH therapy in the absence of chemotherapy for this disease, no significant difference in the tumor response was detected between the RH only group and the RH plus M-VAC group. The long-term results cannot yet be evaluated, but we will continue to follow these patients in the future so as to clarify the usefulness of M-VAC therapy as preoperative therapy.