Cancer Res Treat.  2006 Apr;38(2):78-83.

Efficacy of Combined Gemcitabine/Cisplatin Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

• Bae KS
• Ahn KI
• Jeon SH
• Huh JS
• Chang SG

Abstract

PURPOSE: We wanted to determine and report on the outcome of combined gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy for patients suffering with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between July 1999 and December 2004, 43 selected patients were enrolled in this study. Group 1 (the adjuvant chemotherapy group) had undergone radical surgery with removal of evident tumor from the following primary sites: bladder (n=8), renal pelvis (n=7) and ureter (n=3). Group 2 (the salvage chemotherapy group) had undergone palliative surgery with a remnant tumor at the following primary sites; bladder (n=23) and renal pelvis (n=2). All the patients were given gemcitabine/ciplatin and they evaluated for the therapeutic effect and toxicity. The patients were initially treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 intravenously for 30 minutes on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle, and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 was administered intravenously on day 1 using prehydration measures.
RESULTS
Group 1: The median follow-up period was 16.5 months. The mean age was 63 years (males: 15 cases, females: 3 cases), and eleven patients (61%) remained alive. The estimated median relapse-free survival period and 2-year survival rate were 24 months and 63%, respectively. Group 2: the median follow-up period was 20 months, the mean patient age was 63.8 years (males: 22 cases, females: 3 cases), and nine patients (36%) remained alive. The overall response and 2-year survival rates were 36% and 43%, respectively. Toxicities: Grade 3 toxicities developed in 14 cycles during the total 232 cycles. Grade 4 toxicity did not occur.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study confirm that adjuvant and salvage chemotherapy with using gemcitabine and cisplatin is tolerable and safe.

Keyword

Gemcitabine; Cisplatin; Urologic neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Cisplatin
Drug Therapy*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Kidney Pelvis
Palliative Care
Survival Rate
Ureter
Urinary Bladder
Urologic Neoplasms
Cisplatin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Relapse-free survival curve after surgery for the patients with high risk urothelial cancer (group 1). (B) Overall survival curve after surgery for patients with high risk urothelial cancer (group 1).

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  Fig. 2 (A) Progression free survival curve after GC chemotherapy for the patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (group 2). (B) Overall survival curve after GC chemotherapy for the patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (group 2).

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