Neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus cisplatin for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Comparison of 3 and 4 cycles of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) combined with radical cystectomy (RC) is critical in reducing disease recurrence, with GC (gemcitabine and cisplatin) being one of the most commonly used NACs. Different GC schedules have been used, but the best neoadjuvant regimen is still unknown. The clinical outcomes of 3 and 4 cycles of neoadjuvant GC are compared in this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine which is best for patients with MIBC.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, WAN FANG DATA, and meeting abstracts to identify relevant studies up to March 2023. Studies that compared 3 and 4 cycles of neoadjuvant GC for MIBC were included. The primary outcomes were pCR, pDS, OS, and CSS. The secondary outcome was recurrence and SAEs.

RESULTS

A total of 3 studies, with 1091 patients, were included in the final analysis. Patients that received 4 cycles of GC had a higher pCR (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.87; p = 0.003) and pDS (OR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48-0.84; p = 0.002) than those who received 3 cycles. Regarding recurrence rate (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.91-1.65; p = 0.18), there were no appreciable differences between the 3 and 4 cycles of GC. Survival parameters such as OS (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.86-2.12; p = 0.19) and CSS (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.82-1.38; p = 0.20) were similar. Only one trial reported on the outcomes of SAEs. And there were no statistically significant differences in thrombocytopenia, infection rate, neutropenic fever, anemia, or decreased renal function between patients. The neutropenia of patients was statistically different (OR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-0.99; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The 4-cycle GC regimen was superior to the 3-cycle regimen in only the pCR and pDS results. Survival and recurrence rates were similar between the two regimens. In both treatment regimes, the toxicity profile was manageable. However, due to the inherent drawbacks of retrospective research, this should be regarded with caution.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cisplatin Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of the two most commonly used cisplatin-based regimens; gemcitabine, and cisplatin (GC) vs. accelerated (dose-dense: dd) or conventional methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin (MVAC).

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and other sources. Outcomes of interest included overall survival, downstaging to pT≤1, pathologic complete response (pCR), recurrence, and toxicity. Meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

We identified 24 studies. Efficacy outcomes were comparable between MVAC and GC for MIBC. dd-MVAC was associated with favorable efficacy compared to GC in terms of downstaging (OR 1.45; 95%CI 1.15-1.82) and all-cause mortality at longest follow-up (OR 0.63; 95%CI 0.44-0.81). However, GC was associated with a better safety profile in terms of febrile neutropenia (OR 0.32; 95%CI 0.13-0.80), anemia (OR 0.32; 95%CI 0.18-0.54), nausea and vomiting (OR 0.27; 95%CI 0.12-0.65) compared to dd-MVAC. Compared to MVAC, patients receiving GC had an increased risk of developing grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia (OR 4.70; 95%CI 1.59-13.89) and a lower risk of nausea and vomiting (OR 0.05; 95%CI 0.01-0.31). Certainty in the estimates was very low for most outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficacy and safety outcomes were comparable between MVAC and GC for MIBC. Including non-peer-reviewed studies showed higher efficacy with dd-MVAC. A phase III randomized trial comparing the two regimens is needed to guide clinical practice.

Clinical course involving thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia in a patient with bladder cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin

Gemcitabine induce thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis as toxicity. In this report, we show detailed time-course for platelet fluctuation. Our case emphasis attention to monitor see-saw-like toxicity on platelet count.

Curative Effect and Survival Assessment Comparing Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Versus Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin and Cisplatin as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been accepted as an effective curative treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients and has resulted in better survival outcomes than radical cystectomy or a cisplatin-based regimen. In the present study, we aimed to compare the two most commonly used cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapies, gemcitabine plus cisplatin and methotrexate plus vinblastine plus doxorubicin plus cisplatin, by summarizing and analyzing clinical data and outcomes of published research.

METHODS

We searched for qualified studies that compared these two types of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including 4 randomized controlled trials and 14 retrospective studies. Data and information on pathological responses and long-term survival studies were extracted and analyzed separately.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies with 3116 patients were selected from 1188 studies, which contained data on pathological complete response, pathological partial response, and overall survival. In contrast to the results of previous studies, there was no significant difference in pathological complete response (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.15), pathological partial response (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-1.14), and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.17) between GC and MVAC in this meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

No significant differences were observed between GC and MVAC in the muscle-invasive bladder cancer treatment due to the similar curative effect and parallel long survival outcomes due to the similar curative effect and parallel long survival outcomes. The priority selection of GC or MVAC in the clinic should be guided by further investigation, and the clinical standard strategy still counts on the results of more randomized controlled trials in the future.

Downstaging of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Using Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine and Cisplatin or Dose-Dense Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin as Single Regimens or as Switch Therapy Modalities

BACKGROUND

Consensus guidelines recommend gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) or dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (ddMVAC) as equally preferable neoadjuvant chemotherapy before cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This study sought to compare the ability of GC and ddMVAC to achieve pathologic response; and to evaluate the benefit of switching regimens after 1 or 2 cycles of the other.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients aged ≥ 18 with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (≥ cT2) and who had received either GC or ddMVAC as neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cystectomy were retrospectively evaluated using the electronic medical record. Patients who received 1 or 2 cycles of one regimen followed by several cycles of the other regimen before cystectomy were classified as switch therapy patients. This study assessed the rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) and any degree of downstaging.

RESULTS

Among 109 patients who received GC or ddMVAC, 7 (21%) of 33 ddMVAC patients demonstrated pCR, and 19 (25%) of 76 GC patients demonstrated pCR (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-3.31; P = .67). Downstaging rates were 39% for ddMVAC and 50% for GC (P = .31). Thirty-three of 36 patients aged ≥ 70 years received GC (P < .001). Four of 7 patients treated with switch therapy showed downstaging, and 2 of 7 experienced pCR.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference in pCR rates between GC and ddMVAC, and patients were most often able to receive 3 or 4 cycles of treatment. Switch therapy may be of benefit in patients whose disease has a poor initial response.

Contemporary best practice in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Background

We aimed to provide a comprehensive literature review on the best practice management of patients with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) using neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Method

Between July and September 2018, we conducted a systematic review using MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic bibliographic databases. The search strategy included the following terms: Neoadjuvant Therapy and Urinary Bladder Neoplasms.

Results

There is no benefit of a single-agent platinum-based chemotherapy. Platinum-based NAC is the gold standard therapy and mainly consists of a combination of cisplatin, vinblastine, methotrexate, doxorubicin, gemcitabine or even epirubicin (MVAC). At 5 years, the absolute overall survival benefit of MVAC was 5% and the absolute disease-free survival was improved by 9%. This effect was observed independently of the type of local treatment and did not vary between subgroups of patients. Moreover, a ypT0 stage (complete pathological response) after radical cystectomy was a surrogate marker for improved oncological outcomes. High-density MVAC has been shown to decrease toxicity (with a grade 3-4 toxicity ranging from 0% to 26%) without impacting oncological outcomes. To date, there is no role for carboplatin administration in the neoadjuvant setting in patients that are unfit for cisplatin-based NAC administration. So far, there is no published trial evaluating the role of immunotherapy in a neoadjuvant setting, but many promising studies are ongoing.

Conclusion

There is a strong level of evidence supporting the clinical use of a high-dose-intensity combination of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin in a neoadjuvant setting. The landscape of MIBC therapies should evolve in the near future with emerging immunotherapies.

Role of gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer: Experience over the last decade

Objective

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy is considered the standard of care for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. In the last decade, interest in neoadjuvant chemotherapy has slowly shifted from methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin regime to gemcitabine and cisplatin regime. There are many publications on gemcitabine and cisplatin regime in literature which cover different aspects of treatment. This review aims to summarise the findings published so far on gemcitabine and cisplatin regime and present it in a concise manner.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted searching the PubMed^® database in December 2016 using the medical subject heading (MeSH) with the terms gemcitabine, cisplatin, chemotherapy, muscle invasive bladder cancer, and neoadjuvant. All relevant studies were included and results were analysed.

Results

A total of 13 studies were included which published between 2007 and 2015. These 13 studies comprised of 754 subjects suffering from muscle invasive bladder cancer. The proportion of male patients ranged from 60% to 86.4% and the median age ranged from 54.2 to 77.3 years in various studies. Complete pathological response (pT0) was seen in 30.0% of patients and pathological downstaging (<pT2) was seen in 48.67% of patients.

Conclusion

As per latest guidelines, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. There is substantial pathological downstaging with low toxicity in patients of muscle invasive bladder cancer who receive neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin regime.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Two-Step Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide updated results of previous findings. We also summarized published data to compare clinical outcomes of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) versus gemcitabine and cisplatin/carboplatin (GC) in the neoadjuvant setting.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized clinical trials was performed to compare neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus local treatment with the same local treatment alone. Because no randomized trials have investigated MVAC versus GC in the neoadjuvant setting, a meta-analysis of 13 retrospective studies was performed to compare MVAC with GC.

RESULTS

A total of 3,285 patients were included in 15 randomized clinical trials. There was a significant overall survival (OS) benefit associated with cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.96). A total of 1,766 patients were included in 13 retrospective studies. There was no significant difference in pathological complete response between MVAC and GC. However, GC was associated with a significantly reduced overall survival (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.57). After excluding carboplatin data, GC still seemed to be inferior to MVAC in OS (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.99-1.74), but the difference was no longer statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

These results support the use of cisplatin-based combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Although GC and MVAC had similar treatment response rates, the different survival outcome observed in this study requires further investigation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) has been shown to improve survival outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients, but the optimal neoadjuvant regimen has not been established. Methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) and gemcitabine and cisplatin/carboplatin (GC) are two of the most commonly used chemotherapy regimens in modern oncology. In this two-step meta-analysis, an updated and more precise estimate of the survival benefit of cisplatin-based NCT in MIBC is provided. This study also demonstrated that MVAC might have superior overall survival compared with GC (with or without carboplatin data) in the neoadjuvant setting. The findings suggest that NCT should be standard care in MIBC, and MVAC could be the preferred neoadjuvant regimen.

[EFFICACY OF NEOADJUVANT GEMCITABINE AND CISPLATIN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MUSCLE-INVASIVE UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA OF THE BLADDER]

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

METHOD

This was a retrospective analysis of 14 patients who received neoadjuvant GC before radical cystectomy for clinical stage T2-4N0-3M0 bladder cancer. The primary outcome was pT0 rate and no residual muscle-invasion (≤ pT1) at cystectomy.

RESULTS

Before chemotherapy, clinical stage T2 was in 8 (57%), T3 in 6 (43%) and N + in 3 (21%). Relative dose intensity was 75% for gemcitabine and 91% for cisplatin. At cystectomy, pT0 was observed in 4 (29%) and ≤ pT1 in 10 (71%). Regarding lymph node metastasis, 2 with N1 had pN0 and pN1, respectively, and 1 with N3 did pN1. Grade 3 or 4 anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia were observed in 3 (21%), 9 (64%), 9 (64%) and 1 (7%), respectively. Three patients died of bladder cancer at median follow-up of 33 months. The 4-year overall survival rate in patients with pT0 was 100% compared to 47% in those with residual diseases (P = 0.153).

CONCLUSIONS

We showed the proportion of pT0 at cystectomy to predict the effect of neoadjuvant GC. The results suggest that neoadjuvant GC is feasible for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Current and recent clinical trials for perioperative systemic therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Although Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) is increasing in incidence, treatment has largely remained limited to radical cystectomy with or without cisplatin-based neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. We reviewed the current and recent clinical trials evaluating perioperative chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and novel therapeutic regimens for MIBC patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

METHODS

An overview of perioperative MIBC management was conducted initially using MEDLINE. The Clinical Trials Registry and MEDLINE were further searched specifically for perioperative MIBC chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and other novel therapeutic approaches. Trials involving non-perioperative management, operative management other than radical cystectomy, multiple tumors, or purely superficial or metastatic disease were excluded from selection. These criteria were not specifically fulfilled for mTOR inhibitor and immune therapy trials. Only phase III chemotherapy and phase II targeted therapy trials found in the Clinical Trials Registry were selected. MEDLINE searches of specific treatments were limited to January 2009 to January 2014 whereas the Clinical Trials Registry search had no timeline. Systematic MEDLINE searches had no phase restrictions. Trials known by the authors to fulfill search criteria but were not found via searches were also selected.

RESULTS

Twenty-five trials were selected from the Clinical Trials Registry including 7 phase III chemotherapy trials, 11 Phase II targeted therapy trials, 3 immune therapy trials, 1 mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor trial, and 3 gene and vaccine therapy trials. Nine trials have been completed and 5 have been terminated early or withdrawn. Nine trials have data available when individually searched using MEDLINE and/or Google. Systematic searches of MEDLINE separately found 12 trials in the past 5 years. Two phase III chemotherapy trials were selected based on knowledge by the authors. No phase III trials of targeted therapy have been registered or published.

CONCLUSIONS

New trials are currently being conducted that may revolutionize MIBC treatment preceding or following cystectomy. Head-to-head phase III trials of perioperative chemotherapy and further phase II and phase III trials of targeted therapy and other therapeutic approaches are necessary before the current cisplatin-based perioperative chemotherapy paradigm is altered.

Multicenter assessment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BCa) was established primarily with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC), with complete response rates (pT0) as high as 38%. However, because of the comparable efficacy with better tolerability of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in patients with metastatic disease, GC has become the most commonly used regimen in the neoadjuvant setting.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess real-world pathologic response rates to NAC with different regimens in a large, multicenter cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected retrospectively at 19 centers on patients with clinical cT2-4aN0M0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who received at least three cycles of NAC, followed by radical cystectomy (RC), between 2000 and 2013.

INTERVENTION

NAC and RC.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary outcome was pathologic stage at cystectomy. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine factors predictive of pT0N0 and ≤pT1N0 stages.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Data were collected on 935 patients who met inclusion criteria. GC was used in the majority of the patients (n=602; 64.4%), followed by MVAC (n=183; 19.6%) and other regimens (n=144; 15.4%). The rates of pT0N0 and ≤pT1N0 pathologic response were 22.7% and 40.8%, respectively. The rate of pT0N0 disease for patients receiving GC was 23.9%, compared with 24.5% for MVAC (p=0.2). There was no difference between MVAC and GC in pT0N0 on multivariable analysis (odds ratio: 0.89 [95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.34]; p=0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

Response rates to NAC were lower than those reported in prospective randomized trials, and we did not discern a difference between MVAC and GC. Without any evidence from randomized prospective trials, the best NAC regimen for invasive BCa remains to be determined.

PATIENT SUMMARY

There was no apparent difference in the response rates to the two most common presurgical chemotherapy regimens for patients with bladder cancer.

Improving the outcome of patients with muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with neoadjuvant gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy: A single institution experience

INTRODUCTION

Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy prior to radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder improves survival. This study was undertaken to determine the rate of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin use prior to RC and to assess its effect on the pathologic response rates and cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

This retrospective chart review examined all patients having a RC between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011. We collected patient demographics, pre-treatment clinical stage, type of chemotherapy, post-RC pathologic data and survival data.

RESULTS

A total of 251 RC were performed of which 160 were for stage cT2-T4 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Of the 160 patients, 91 (57%) received neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) and 69 (43%) went straight to RC. Patients receiving neoadjuvant GC had a greater chance of achieving a pathologically lower stage compared to the untreated population: pT0 at 21% vs. 3%; non-invasive cancer at 37% vs. 10%; and organ-confined cancer at 60% vs. 33% (p < 0.001). Survival correlated with pathological stage: ≤pT3a patients had a median OS and CSS of 48.8 and 51.2 months compared to an OS and a CSS in ≥pT3b patients of 21.8 and 28.1 months, respectively (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is more frequently administered at our institution compared to the published literature. We have found that neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases the rate of down-staging, which is associated with a reduced the risk of death from urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Pooled analysis of clinical outcomes with neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer has been shown to confer a survival advantage in phase III studies. Although cisplatin and gemcitabine are often used in this setting, a comprehensive evaluation of this regimen is lacking. In this review we summarize the efficacy of neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer based on currently published studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted in April 2012 searching MEDLINE® databases. Articles were selected if they included patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer, evaluated the combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine as neoadjuvant treatment, and reported pathological data after cystectomy. Cisplatin and gemcitabine dosing regimens and clinical data were further summarized using weighted averages.

RESULTS

Seven studies encompassing 164 patients were published between 2007 and 2012. The majority of patients (79%) received cisplatin and gemcitabine on a 21-day cycle. A weighted average of 19.2 lymph nodes was obtained at cystectomy, and 29.7% of patients were found to have pN1 disease. Pathological down staging to pT0 and less than pT2 occurred in 42 (25.6%) and 67 (46.5%) patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine yield appreciable pathological response rates in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Since pathological response has been implicated as a potential surrogate for survival in muscle invasive bladder cancer, these data suggest that neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine may warrant further prospective assessment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine/cisplatin vs. methotrexate/vinblastine/doxorubicin/cisplatin for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: a retrospective analysis from the University of Southern California

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated pathologic and survival outcomes of GC (gemcitabine/cisplatin) and methotrexate/vinblastine/doxorubicin/cisplatin (M-VAC) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 116 patients who received NAC (GC: n = 58; M-VAC: n = 58) before radical cystectomy and superextended pelvic lymph node dissection for clinical stage T2-4N0M0 bladder cancer was performed. The outcomes were complete response rate (CRR; pT0N0), partial response rate (PRR; pT0N0, pTaN0, pT1N0, or pTisN0), overall mortality (OM), and recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to analyze OM. The cumulative incidence method and Fine and Gray's competing risk regression analysis were used to analyze recurrence.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 2.1 years for the GC group and 7.4 years for the M-VAC group (P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the GC and M-VAC groups with regard to CRR (27.3% vs. 17.1%, P = 0.419) or PRR (45.5% vs. 37.1%, P = 0.498). The predicted 5-year freedom from OM rate (P = 0.634) and cumulative incidence of recurrence rate (P = 0.891) did not differ between the GC and M-VAC groups. Multivariable analysis showed that there was no independent association between type of NAC and OM (P = 0.721) or recurrence (P = 0.065).

CONCLUSIONS

Pathologic and survival outcomes did not differ in patients who received GC and M-VAC NAC. These data support the use of the GC regimen in the neoadjuvant setting.

Comparison between neoadjuvant and adjuvant gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Aim: Radical cystectomy plus platinum-based perioperative chemotherapy is a standard treatment for patients with clinically localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The standard perioperative chemotherapy is methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC). However, no prospective randomized trial has been published that compares neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for bladder cancer. Moreover, the efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) has not been clarified. In this study we have compared the clinical outcomes between neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in patients receiving GC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who were scheduled to be treated with a radical cystectomy plus perioperative chemotherapy with GC from 2005 to 2010 at our institution. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results: A total of 42 patients received perioperative chemotherapy with GC (25 neoadjuvant, 17 adjuvant). The median number of cycles of GC administered to the two groups was not significantly different. The median duration of follow up was 28.6 months. During the follow-up period, recurrence was observed in nine and three patients in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups, respectively. The RFS rate at median follow up was 67 and 76% in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups, respectively. No significant difference in RFS at median follow up was observed between the two groups (P = 0.124).

Conclusion: Our results showed no statistically significant difference in RFS between neoadjuvant and adjuvant GC chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We expect to validate these findings in a prospective randomized trial.

Retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes with neoadjuvant cisplatin-based regimens for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The benefit of neoadjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cisplatin (MVAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) has been prospectively demonstrated in a phase III study. Extrapolating from comparative data in the metastatic setting, platinum doublets such as cisplatin-gemcitabine (CG) have been adopted. We sought to compare clinical outcomes in patients treated for MIBC with neoadjuvant CG and MVAC at our institution.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with MIBC were identified from a prospectively maintained registry. Clinicopathologic information and clinical outcome data were obtained directly from the registry. When available, pharmacy records were reviewed to ascertain the use of growth factors and chemotherapy dose intensity (DI). Survival was compared in subgroups divided by the regimen of chemotherapy rendered (ie, CG vs. MVAC) using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Median overall survival (OS) in the overall cohort (N = 61) was 23 months. OS was improved in patients receiving either MVAC or CG chemotherapy compared with patients receiving "other" chemotherapy (35.3 vs. 16.3 months; P = .055). Although the median OS associated with neoadjuvant CG numerically exceeded the survival associated with neoadjuvant MVAC (104.3 and 21.8 months, respectively), this was not statistically significant (P = .73). Pathologic downstaging predicted improved OS with both neoadjuvant CG and MVAC, and the rates of downstaging were similar with both regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Although warranting prospective validation, our data suggest that CG is a possible alternative neoadjuvant approach to traditional regimens such as MVAC for patients with MIBC.

Update on the management of invasive bladder cancer 2012

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a deadly disease for which a number of new approaches have become available to improve prognosis. A recent review emphasized the importance of timely indication of surgery and highlighted current views regarding the adequate extent of the surgery and the importance of lymph node dissection. Furthermore, treatment using neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy has become more prominent, while cystectomy and diversion should be conducted only in experienced centers. Optimal methods of urinary diversion and the use of robot-assisted laparoscopic cystectomy require further study.