Combination chemotherapy with bleomycin, vinca alkaloid and cisplatin (BVP) for advanced urothelial cancer

Since October 1979, 18 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer have been treated with combination chemotherapy of bleomycin (5-10 mg/day administered on days 1 to 7), vinca alkaloid (vinblastine 5-10 mg/day or vincristine 1 mg/sqm on days 8 and 9) and CDDP (60 mg/sqm on day 10). CR was achieved in 3 of the 18 patients and PR in 6 patients. Over-all, the response rate was 50%. Among 3 patients who achieved CR, 2 patients are still free of disease for 31 months and for 28 months, and the other is alive with cancer for 26 months. The 2-year survival rate was 58% in responders (CR + PR) and 0% in nonresponders. (p less than 0.005). In many cases, the response was observed after the first or second course of BVP therapy, and there was a relatively good response in patients with lymphnode metastasis alone. The treatment was tolerated well and common toxic effects were nausea, vomiting of moderate to severe degree (100%), myelosuppression (50%) and mild nephrotoxicity (22%). As to the choice of vinca alkaloids, vincristine seemed to be the treatment of choice because it was less toxic than vinblastine and was almost equally effective.