Objectives: We investigated the outcomes of paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy as an optional regimen for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma after failure of two consecutive platinum-based regimens.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 21 patients who had evidence of disease progression after two consecutive platinum-based regimens, gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC course), and methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC course) as first-line and second-line treatments. As third-line chemotherapy, patients received paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (70 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks until disease progression.
Results: Complete remission occurred in one patient (4.8%), partial remission occurred in three patients (14.3%) and stable disease occurred in five patients (23.8%). The overall response rate was 19.0% and the overall disease control rate, including stable disease, was 42.9%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3 months (95% CI 3.0-5.0). The median overall survival was 9 months (95% CI 7.0-15.0). Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia appeared in 85.7% of patients. No life-threatening complications were observed.
Conclusions: Paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy could be an optional regimen for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma after the failure of two consecutive standard platinum-based regimens.
© 2011 The Japanese Urological Association.