Combination chemotherapy with fluorouracil, adriamycin, cis-Platinum and VM-26 in advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract

From October 1981 to October 1984, 42 consecutive patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract were treated with cis-Platinum 50 mg/m² i.v. and Adriamycin 50 mg/m² i.v. day 1, and Fluorouracil 500mg/m² i.v. and VM26 100 mg/m² days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks. In the 36 evaluable patients, 4 complete remissions and 15 partial remissions were noted (52.7% response rate). Of the 12 patients with previously untreated, locally advanced bladder carcinoma, 8 responded, with 3 pathologically confirmed complete remissions. Toxicity was moderate. Median survival was 44 weeks. This 4-drug combination had significant palliative activity in our patient population. Its role in the preoperative setting deserves further evaluation.