Gemcitabine and cisplatin after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in an adjuvant setting: Feasibility study from the Genito-Urinary Group of the French Federation of Cancer Centers

The impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced bladder cancer is still not fully established. Between January 2000 and November 2001, 30 patients entered the trial to receive four cycles of a combination of gemcitabine 1250 mg/m on day 1 and day 8 and cisplatin 70 mg/m on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks. Histologic diagnoses included pT2-pT3-pT4 tumors and/or pN1-pN2. Combination treatment with gemcitabine and cisplatin was considered feasible if 70% of the patients received a relative dose intensity of each drug of more than 90%. Twenty-seven patients received four cycles of combination treatment. The relative dose intensity of cisplatine and gemcitabine was 96 and 88%, respectively. No toxic death occurred. We conclude that giving four cycles of the gemcitabine-cisplatin regimen in the adjuvant setting after cystectomy is feasible with a manageable toxicity and a high relative dose intensity. Whether this approach may increase survival is currently assessed in a randomized trial.