[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of locally advanced tumors of the bladder: preliminary experience]

From february 1988 to march 1989, 6 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (T3b-T4, N0-N1, M0) were treated with 4 courses of neoadjuvant MP chemotherapy (methotrexate 300 mg/mq. + cisplatinum 100 mg/mq). In two patients chemotherapy was stopped because minimal or no response after two courses. Partial response (RP) was achieved in three patients (50%). Two patients died 2 and 5 month later. One patients developed metastases at 11 month. The remaining three cases showed NED at 3, 4 and 15 months of follow-up. In the same period 4 patients with metastatic bladder tumor were treated with M-VAC chemotherapy according to Yagoda before the cystectomy. M-VAC obtained a complete response in one case, and PR in 3 cases. All the metastases showed evidence of objective tumor regression. Reduction of bone pain was observed in one case. One patient died 15 months later with bone massive involvement. Another patient developed invasive tumor at 13 months. Two patients were disease-free at 3 and 5 months, respectively. Toxicity was more frequent in patient treated with M-VAC than with MP chemotherapy. M-VAC, we believe, represents a reliable neoadjuvant treatment of advanced metastatic bladder cancer.