Combined chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

A growing body of evidence supports the treatment of invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with transurethral resection, chemotherapy, and external beam radiotherapy. Randomized trials have demonstrated the superiority of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy to radiotherapy alone. Several series with 10 years of follow-up demonstrate that the success of this approach can be maintained. Preservation of the urothelium, however, results in continued risk of de novo bladder cancer development in addition to the possibility of recurrence. Thus, continued close surveillance and treatment of subsequent superficial or invasive bladder cancer is an essential component of this bladder preservation approach. Concomitant cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy or initial (neoadjuvant) combination cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy are the two options best supported by the literature. How these regimens compare with each other and with cystectomy-based treatment remains to be defined.