[Adjuvant chemotherapy with biocisplatin, methotrexate and biocarbazine in advanced bladder tumors]

In a series of 44 patients with advanced nonmetastatic bladder tumors the authors carried out complex treatment: operative removal of the tumor with subsequent (adjuvant) chemotherapy. Tumor transurethral resection (TuTUR) was performed in 26 patients and open operation in 18. The chemotherapeutic scheme included: biocysplatinum 60 mg/m2, methotrexat 15 mg/m2 and biocarbazin 200 mg/m2. Each patient received up to three therapeutic courses. The following late results were obtained: For a period of 6 to 12 months in 3 patients the tumor progressed and two of them died; twenty three patients, i.e. approximately half of the patients in this series (52.2 per cent) had no recurrences until the end of the second year. There was on essential difference between the number of recurrence-free patients for two years between the two approaches: TuTUR + chemotherapy--14 patients (53.8 per cent) and those subjected to open surgery + chemotherapy--9 patients (50 per cent). For a period of 3 years 12 patients had no recurrences (27.2 per cent). The most common side reactions to chemotherapy were leucopenia and vomiting. A few patients had transient renal dysfunction.