2ND LINE CHEMOTHERAPY WITH IFOSFAMIDE AS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR ADVANCED BLADDER-CANCER

We have carried out a phase II study in advanced or metastatic transit ional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Eligible patients had unresectabl e bladder cancer, previously treated with one line of systemic chemoth erapy. Treatment consisted of ifosfamide 1000 mg/sm in a 2-hour infusi on for 5 consecutive days from d.1 to d.5. Mesna was administered intr avenously at a 20% of the ifosfamide dosage before ifosfamide and oral ly at 40% after 4 and 8 hours from the ifosfamide infusion. Twenty pat ients entered the study and received a total of 62 cycles: the treatme nt resulted feasible on an outpatient basis, with mild toxicity. Only one partial response was observed. With this dose and schedule, ifosfa mide appeared less effective than in a previous report at higher doses . Toxicity was acceptable.