Adjuvant chemotherapy following radical cystectomy

Published: 2010-09-03

The use of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) after radical cystectomy is of benefit to patients with high-risk bladder cancer.

A lack of evidence for use of AC in patients who have had the bladder and surrounding tissues removed due to cancer led to a retrospective multicentre observational study to investigate the possible benefit [1]. A total of 3,947 patients were included in the study and grouped into quintiles based on their risk of disease progression. AC, received by 932 patients (23.6%) in the cohort, was defined as chemotherapy given within 90 days of radical cystectomy in patients without evidence of disease recurrence.

When analysed according to risk of progression, those in the quintile at highest risk appeared to benefit from AC (Hazard Ratio 0.75, 95%CI 0.62–0.90, p = 0.002). The median survival was 5.8 weeks longer than in patients not receiving AC (p < 0.001).

1. Clin Cancer Res. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-10-0457