Combination chemotherapy for advanced bladder cancer with adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil

Summary

Combination three-drug chemotherapy with adriamycin (ADM), cyclophosphamide (CPM), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was performed in 24 cases of advanced bladder cancer who underwent surgical treatment, and three cases with recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer. The average age (25 men and 2 women) was 53. Of the 24 cases, nine were in stage T2, 10 in T3, and five in T4.

One course consisted of a combination of 30 mg/m² of ADM, 300 mg/m² of CPM, and, 250 mg of 5-FU, administered five times. The combination was administered to three groups: every day for 5 days consecutively in group A, twice a week for 2^1/2 weeks in group B, and once every 4 weeks for 16 weeks in group C. After injection of ADM, CPM, and 5-FU, 200 mg/day of 5-FU was administered PO daily in all three groups.

The 5-year survival rate of the 24 cases (apart from 3 cases with measurable metastatic tumor) was 58%. The 5-year survival rate for stage T2 was 88%, and that for stage T3 was 62.5%; all patients with stage T4 disease died before 3 years and 6 months. Partial response was seen in two out of three patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.

Alopecia was observed in all cases as a side-effect of the chemotherapy. Also anorexia, nausea, and myelosuppression were observed in many cases, though the degree was tolerable. However, there were no disorders of the cardiovascular system, except for one case with transient hypotension.