Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of concomitant radiotherapy (CRT) and carboplatin.
Patients and methods: From 1992 until 1997, 67 patients with T3 invasive bladder cancer (IBC) were treated using CRT and carboplatin. X-Ray radiotherapy (10 MeV) was applied using LINAC in a locoregional technique, with a total tumor dose of 65 Gy in 32 fractions. Carboplatin was administered as a bolus infusion once a week, on day 5, up to a total dose of 900 mg.
Results: The most frequent toxicity was hematological. Of the 67 treated patients, 92.5% achieved a clinically complete response, and 7.5% developed progressive disease during therapy. The 5-year overall survival was 55% and disease-free survival was 35%.
Conclusion: CRT and carboplatin appear to be safe and extremely active in the treatment of T3 IBC, but the results should be confirmed in a randomized study.