METHOTREXATE, VINBLASTINE, DOXORUBICIN AND CISPLATIN CHEMOTHERAPY ANDCYSTECTOMY FOR UNRESECTABLE BLADDER-CANCER

Purpose: We combined chemotherapy and surgery to improve local control and survival of patients with unresectable bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 41 patients with unresectable bladder cancer ( T4bNx/N+MO) received methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cispla tin (M-VAC) chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy when possible. End points were response to M-VAC, local control and survival. Result s: Minimum followup was 4 years (range 4 to 7). Of the 41 patients 14 (34%) achieved a complete (TO) and 27 (66%) achieved an incomplete (T) clinical response to M-VAC, including 29 who underwent exploration a nd 24 who underwent cystectomy. Definitive surgery was not done in 17 patients due to lack of response to M-VAC with local or systemic tumor progression, or refusal. Nine patients (22%) are alive, including all but 1 after cystectomy for TO disease, and 2 had T+ tumor confined to the bladder for longer than 5 years. None of the patients with no res ponse or tumor progression on M-VAC survived. Resection of extravesica l disease after M-VAC in 16 patients did not prolong survival or impro ve local tumor control. Six patients required laparotomy for palliatio n of tumor related complications. Conclusions: Our results suggest tha t patients who present with unresectable bladder cancer may benefit fr om M-VAC and definitive surgery, especially when disease is TO and PO status. Surgery may salvage select cases of advanced pelvic tumor down staged by chemotherapy to tumors pathologically confined to the bladd er. Alternative treatment strategies are needed for the majority of pa tients with locally advanced bladder cancer.