Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II in advanced urothelial cancer

Thirteen patients with advanced urothelial cancer received a minimum of 2 courses of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II. Of these patients 6 (46 per cent) achieved a partial response with an average duration of more than 6 months. One patient has received cis-diamminedichloroplatinum for more than 1 year and has no clinical evidence of tumor (complete response in lung metastasis plus excision of local recurrence). The routine administration of intravenous fluids and mannitol immediately before cis-diamminedichloroplatinum prevented the nephrotoxicity associated with this drug. An outpatient setting was well tolerated in most instances. This report confirms the activity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum in urothelial cancer and suggests its use as an adjuvant to operation and/or radiotherapy in selected cases.