Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiation with gemcitabine in muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Abstract

4541 Background: Urinary bladder cancer is one of the most prevelent genitourinay cancer in Pakistan. It is especially common in population that consumes smokeless tobacco. Advanced stage at diagnosis is usual presentaion due to illiteracy, poverty and lack of primary health facilities. The study was aimed to optimize treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer in poor resource country. Methods: A total of 65 patients were enrolled for the study. All patients had muscle invasive disease on transurethral resection. Patients were to in stage range from T2-3, N0 and M0 to be selected. The patients were planned for gemcitabine and cisplatinum (GC) every three weeks in a dose of 1000 mg/m² and 40 mg/m² on D1 and D8 of each cycle respectively. Ultrasonography was performed to assess for any bladder mass at this point. The patients with no visible tumor were planned for whole bladder external radiotherapy (ERT) along with weekly gemcitabine 100 mg/m². A total of 63 Gray (Gy) was planned with 1.8 Gy per fraction and five fractions a week. Gemcitabine was given on 1st day of every week during whole course of ERT.Treatment interruptions were allowed depending upon chemotherapy and ERT related toxicity. Primary end point was to assess disease free survival (DFS) while overall survival was also assessed as a secondary end point. Results: 54 patients (83%) were available for assessment to treatment and to assess DFS and OS. Rest of the patients 11/65 (17%) were excluded from the analysis due to inability to complete the treatment. Five patients (8%) showed disease recurrence during treatment and were switched to other treatment. 11 patients (20%) showed bowel, 15 patients (28%) showed bladder and 8 patients (15%) showed hematological related grade 1-2 toxicity. Four year DFS and OS were 43% and 52% respectively. Mean and median DFS (year) were 3.16±0.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.91 to 3.42) and 2.68±0.54 (95% CI 2.41 to 2.93) respectively. Mean and median OS (year) were 3.95±0.43 (95% CI 3.67 to 4.21) and 3.55±0.31 (95% CI 3.37 to 3.76) respectively. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with GC followed by concomitant CRT using gemcitabine is an excellent choice for bladder preservation in poor resource countries.