Current chemotherapy regimens for locally advanced or metastatic urinary bladder cancer

Standard chemotherapy of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is actu ally the combination of cisplatine, methothrexate, vinblastine and doxorubi cine (MVAC). Althought a high response rate, long term survival are rarely observed. More effective agents without toxicity are necessary. Several age nts have demonstrated activity alone or in combinations. Combinations regim ens use, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and Gallium nitrate, who prove activity al one or in combination with cisplatine or carboplatine, with a reponse rate of 40 to 70 % in patient with visceral localisations. The optimal regimen i s not yet determined. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.