Concurrent vinblastine and radiation therapy in bladder cancer

Since mid-1987, 29 patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (T1-3 N0-X M0) were treated with concurrent radiation therapy (RT) (target dose [TD], 62-66 Gy) 1.8-2.0 Gy/day for 5 days a week with a break in the middle of treatment of 2-3 weeks and vinblastine weekly 2 mg/5-12 h intravenous infusion.

Patients were divided into two groups: those had only the initial therapy (Group 1) and those who had both courses of RT combined with vinblastine (Group 2). Patients eligible for cystectomy were selected for full-dose RT, according to the results of treatment with a TD of 36 Gy.

Tolerable toxicity rates were noted. No patient was excluded from the study. The authors report a clinical complete remission rate of 71% at early evaluation of treatment and a 3-year local progression-free survival of 66% (for Group 2 patients). These results are comparable to those obtained with more aggressive chemoradiation therapy regimens. The authors also noted improved local disease control in patients who received combination therapy in comparison with the 17 patients treated with RT alone.

The authors suggest that concurrent RT and vinblastine therapy is an attractive alternative to other chemoradiation therapy regimens, and is especially superior to RT therapy alone in caring for old patients or patients in poor general condition.