Preliminary results of M-VAC(methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) chemotherapy for advanced trasitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium

Jung, Suk Young; Kim, Sae Woong; Yoon, Jai Young; Cho, Yong Hyun; Yoon, Moon Soo; Lim, Soo Kil

Abstract

We reviewed retrospectively 23 patients treated with M-VAC (Methotrexate. Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin) from October 1987 to June 1990 at our hospital to evaluate predictive variables for response to chemotherapy and long term survival free of disease. Treatment consisted of monthly cycles of 30mg. per m2 methotrexate, followed 24 hours later by 3mg. per m2. vinblastine, 30mg. per m2. doxorubicin and 70mg. per m2. cisplatin and concluded with repeat vinblastine and methotrexate on days 15 and 22. The Median number of cycles was 3 (range 2 to 5). Complete plus partial remission were observed in 13 of 23 patients (57%) with a median survival or 13 months (range 7+ to 32+ months). Stabilization occurred in 3 patients (14%) and progression in 7 patients (29%) with median survivals of 10 months (range 7+ to 11 months) and 8 months(4 to 12+ months). 1 year survival rate was 77% in complete puls partial remission and 66% in stabilization and 28% in progression. 10 patients with a complete plus partial remission are alive with a median follow up of 15 months ( range 4 to 32+ months), of whom 1 is surviving for more than 2 years. Toxicity included moderately severe myelosuppression that resulted in nadir sepsis in 1 patient mild to moderate anorexia, vomiting, alopecia and renal dysfunction. Though the number of availuable patients are limited, these preliminary results suggest that treatment with M-VAC is effective against disseminated urothelial transitional cell tumors.