Feasibility and efficacy of gemcitabine and carboplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Abstract

e16100 Background: The neoadjuvant M-VAC followed by radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer has improved survival compared to radical cystectomy alone. Nevertheless, M-VAC has been associated with severe toxicity. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the objective response rate, the impact on overall survival, disease-free survival, disease-free survival and toxicity adverse events of gemcitabine and carboplatin (GC) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 140 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for T2N0M0 to T4aN0M0 bladder cancer at our institution between January 2001 and August 2008. Seventy patients were treated with neoadjuvant GC followed by cystectomy between March 2005 and August 2008 (GC group), and 70 patients were treated with cystectomy alone between January 2001 and May 2007 (cystectomy alone group). In the GC group, the patients received 2 courses of GC therapy consisted of 800mg/m2 gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 and carboplatin (AUC 4) on day 2. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate, and the secondary endpoints were overall survival, cancer-specific survival, disease free survival, and toxicity. Results: Fifteen patients (23.8%) had a complete response and 26 patients (41.3%) had a partial response in the GC group. At a mean follow-up period of 26.7 months, the overall survival was 85.0% in the GC group and 47.8% in the cystectomy alone group (p = 0.003). The cancer-specific survival was 78.4% in the GC group and 44.6% in the cystectomy alone group (p = 0.0018). The disease-free survival was 82.9% in the GC group and 35.7% in the cystectomy alone group (p = 0.0001). Hematologic toxicities were the main adverse events. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 26 patients (37.1%) and thrombocytopenia in 15 (21.4%). There was no grade 3/4 gastrointestinal toxicity and no renal function abnormalities. Conclusions: Although this is not a randomized study, the GC neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical cystectomy is feasible and may be associated with improved survival among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. A randomized trial is warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.