[Systemic chemotherapy for transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium]

Abstract

Moderate activity of systemic chemotherapy for advanced urothelial cancer has been reported for more than 30 years. Only with the advent of potent combination therapy in the mid eighties of the past century clinically significant response rates as well as prolonged survival has been documented. This review summarizes seven Phase-III trials of systemic chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma as well as results from adjuvant and neoadjuvant Phase-III trials for muscle-invasive bladder cancer including the most recent reports.