Radiotherapy plus fifth day carboplatin in locally advanced bladder cancer

The goal of our prospective nonrandom study was to improve treatment results in advanced bladder cancer and possibility of cure with acceptable toxicity and reduced rate of late complications. Fifty-three patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (clinical stage T3a and b) treated by radical radiotherapy (65 Gy, conventional fractionation) and concomitant carboplatin (150 mg in bolus infusion, once a week, every fifth day an hour prior to the irradiation, up to total dose of 900 mg, during the treatment course. Out of 53 evaluable patients, complete response was achieved in 47/53 (88.7%) and partial response in 2/53 patients (3.8%). Hematological toxicity grade I and II occurred in the majority of patients. Mean follow-up was 16 months (range 4-24), 2-year overall survival has been achieved in 85% and disease free survival of 49 responding patients in 84%.