Bladder cancer chemotherapy practice study
Clippe, C.; Clippe, S.éb.; Yzebe, D.; Flechon, A.; Droz, J.-P.
Progres en Urologie Journal de l'Association Francaise d'Urologie et de la Societe Francaise d'Urologie 12(4): 609-614
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1166-7087 PMID: 12463119 Document Number: 548740
To study chemotherapy practice in invasive bladder cancer in a cancer centre (Centre Léon Bérard). This retrospective study concerned all patients treated by chemotherapy between 1994 and 2000, either in the adjuvant setting (38) or for metastatic disease (66). Twenty four of the 38 patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were treated with MVAC, 21% developed febrile neutropenia and 60% relapsed. The median recurrence-free survival was 12 months. In patients treated for metastatic disease, the objective response rate was 36% and the median survival with advanced disease after chemotherapy was 10 months. These results are in line with those reported in large-scale randomized trials. The toxicity of chemotherapy was also fairly high (21% of febrile neutropenia). Prospective studies help to optimize chemotherapy protocols, but practice studies show the limited results and the high toxicity. The benefit/risk ratio must be carefully considered.