Factors affecting the outcome of patients with advanced urothelial cancer following chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin

Summary

Attempts were made to identify factors related to the response of patients treated with intravenous methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin (M-VAC). The subjects consisted of 54 patients with advanced urothelial cancer whose histological type was transitional-cell carcinoma. The effects of various factors on the response were studied using univariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model. The following factors were included in the anlayses: (1) age, (2) sex, (3) performance status (PS), (4) primary site, (5) histological grade, (6) T category, (7) N category, (8) M category, (9) tumor status, and (10) dose of drugs. In all, 9 patients achieved a complete response and 23 showed a partial response, for an overall response rate of 59% (95% confidence limits, 46%–72%). Univariate analysis revealed that the PS, M category, and dose of drugs were related to the response, and there was a significant correlation among these three factors. In the multiple logistic regression model, the absolute value oft was high for the M category. The presence of distant metastases is an important factor in predicting poor efficacy for the present regimen. The management of metastatic disease will be the subject of further study in the treatment of advanced urothelial cancer.