[Combination chemotherapy of M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) for advanced uroepithelial cancer].

ABSTRACT

Seventeen patients with advanced uroepithelial cancer were treated with M-VAC regimen. Out of 17 patients, 10 were evaluable but 7 were not. Evaluable 10 patients comprised 7 males and 3 females ranging in age from 50 to 83 (median 69.5). The number of performed cycle ranged from 1 to 3 and the performance status was from 0 to 2. Complete response (CR) was observed in 2, partial response (PR) in 4 and no change (NC) in 4 out of 10 patients. The efficacy rate was 60%. Every site of the tumor responded well and CR was observed, in particular, in nodal and pulmonary metastasis. One of 2 CR patients relapsed and died. One of 4 PR patients died of cancer, 2 are alive with regrowing tumors and the other is alive without disease after surgical removal of all residual tumors. The same regimen was carried out again to 2 patients with regrowing tumors, but no response was observed. As to drug toxicity in total 31 cycles (17 patients), gastrointestinal disturbances, anorexia and alopecia were reversible but hematological toxicity was serious and 3 of 17 (17.6%) died of severe bone marrow suppression. M-VAC is an effective regimen for advanced uroepithelial cancer, but bone marrow suppression was serious. Therefore, special attention should be paid to myelosuppression.