Korean J Urol.  2003 Jul;44(7):672-676.

Hematologic Toxicity of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Combination Therapy in Advanced Urothelial Cancer

• Jang CS
• Cho JS
• Lee SK
• Lee YG
• Yang DY
• Kim SY
• Hong CH
• Chung BS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hematologic toxicity of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinomas.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From 25 patients, with advanced transitional cell carcinomas, 8 had previously received M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) chemotherapy for a metastatic disease, and were scheduled to receive gemcitabine, 1,000mg/m2, intravenously, over 30 minutes, on days 1, 8 and 15, and cisplatin, 70mg/m2, over 1 hour, on day 2 of a 28-day cycle. The hematological toxicities of each cycle were evaluated.
RESULTS
The main hematological toxicities were thrombocytopenia (grade 3 in 24% and grade 4 in 16% of patients), leukopenia (grade 3 in 14% of patients) and anemia (grade 3 in 12% of patients). Four of the patients that experienced grade 4 thrombocytopenia had a tendency for recurring grade 4 thrombocytopenia during the GC chemotherapy. However, there was no evidence of bleeding.
CONCLUSIONS
The most severe hematological toxicity of the GC chemotherapy was thrombocytopenia. The careful observation of the patients that experience grade 4 thrombocytopenia is recommended.

Keyword

Gemcitabine; Carcinoma; transitional cell; Toxicity; Hematology

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell
Cisplatin*
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy
Hematology
Hemorrhage
Humans
Leukopenia
Thrombocytopenia
Vinblastine
Cisplatin
Doxorubicin
Vinblastine