Gemcitabine and paclitaxel combination therapy in transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium is considered a chemose nsitive malignancy; however, few patients receiving standard therapies achi eve long-term disease control. Thus, new treatment approaches using more ef fective and less toxic agents are needed to improve prognosis in these pati ents. Two new agents currently being studied are gemcitabine and the taxane s; both of which have produced overall response rates ranging from 22.5 to 28% (gemcitabine), and 7-56% (paclitaxel) when used as single agents in thi s disease. Both agents have been well tolerated. Results of two phase II st udies of gemcitabine combined with paclitaxel have been published. In one, 60% (15/25) of evaluable patients with advanced stage IV TCC responded; in the other, 53% (8/15) of patients with advanced and/or metastatic TCC respo nded. Several trials evaluating different dosing regimens of gemcitabine pl us paclitaxel or docetaxel are ongoing or planned. (C) 2000 Published by El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.