Concomitant radiotherapy and carboplatin in locally advanced bladder cancer.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of concomitant radiotherapy (CRT) and carboplatin. From 1992 until 1997, 67 patients with T3 invasive bladder cancer (IBC) were treated using CRT and carboplatin. X-Ray radiotherapy (10 MeV) was applied using LINAC in a locoregional technique, with a total tumor dose of 65 Gy in 32 fractions. Carboplatin was administered as a bolus infusion once a week, on day 5, up to a total dose of 900 mg. The most frequent toxicity was hematological. Of the 67 treated patients, 92.5% achieved a clinically complete response, and 7.5% developed progressive disease during therapy. The 5-year overall survival was 55% and disease-free survival was 35%. CRT and carboplatin appear to be safe and extremely active in the treatment of T3 IBC, but the results should be confirmed in a randomized study.