RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Survival Benefit for Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Receiving Continuous Maintenance Chemotherapy
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1249
OP 1262
DO 10.21873/invivo.11597
VO 33
IS 4
A1 CHUANG-CHI LIAW
A1 TZU-YAO LIAO
A1 KE-HUNG TSUI
A1 YU-HSIANG JUAN
YR 2019
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/33/4/1249.abstract
AB Background/Aim: Urothelial carcinoma is a chemo-sensitive cancer. We investigated the contributory factors to survival benefit of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC) patients receiving continuous maintenance chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Inclusion criteria were: i) pathology-confirmed urothelial carcinoma, ii) metastatic lesions identified mainly on pre-therapy computed tomography (CT) scans, and iii) inpatient-administered chemotherapy of at least three cycles. Chemotherapy regimens included 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cisplatin, and gemcitabine. Results: A total of 139 cases were enrolled in this study. The overall objective response rate was 60% and the median survival time was 17 months. Eight-two (59%) patients had inflammation-related symptoms following the course of chemotherapy. Fifty-five (41%) patients survived more than two years. All patients exhibited various fibrosis formations. No patient experienced unfavorable metastatic conditions. Inflammation-related symptoms remained in 28 (51%) patients. We found that surgery, invasive procedures, and infection likely led to a rapid tumor progression. Conclusion: Continuous maintenance chemotherapy targeting chemo-sensitive tumors, administered at metronomic intervals and focus on tumor microenvironment, can increase MUC survival benefits.