Preliminary results of concurrent cisplatin and radiation therapy in locally advanced bladder cancer

Between March 1981 and March 1990, 15 patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were treated concurrently with cisplatin and radiotherapy. Treatment comprised a radiation dose of 40-50 Gy in 20-25 fractions over 4-5 weeks and intravenous infusion of cisplatin with hydration during days 1-5 and 22-26. The total scheduled dose of cisplatin was 200 mg. A complete response (CR) was seen in 3 patients (2 T2 tumours and 1 T3) and the other 12 were regarded as partial responders. Two of the 12 partial responders (1 T2 tumour and 1 T4) underwent cystectomy after treatment, but 9 patients (2 T2, 6 T3 and 1 T4) underwent only transurethral resection. The remaining patient (with a T4 tumour) died from systemic disease, further treatment not being possible because of unrelated heart failure. In 3 CR patients and 9 with a partial response (PR), bladder function was preserved and they have survived for a mean of 18.3 months (range 5-47) after therapy. Although 4 patients in this group had recurrent bladder tumours and 1 died from cancer in another part of the body, 7 have survived with normal bladder function and no recurrence. It is concluded that concurrent cisplatin and radiation therapy is a safe and viable regimen and may be considered as a means of preserving the bladder in patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma.