[Polychemotherapy using the M-VEC protocol (methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, cisplatin) in advanced urinary bladder cancer--effectiveness and toxicity].

We report on preliminary experience with a modified M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) regimen in which adriamycin was replaced by the less toxic 4-epirubicin at equal doses (M-VEC). This study includes 58 patients suffering from advanced bladder cancer, with a minimum observation time of 12 months; each patient received at least two courses of M-VEC (mean follow-up 22 months, average 3.9 cycles). Most (22; 37.9%) of the tumors were T3-4 NO MO; 20 (34.4%) were T3-4 N1-2 MO; and 16 (27.7%) were T3-4 NO-2 M1. Microscopically, 52 (89.6%) were pure transitional cell carcinoma, 5 were (8.6%) squamous cell/carcinomatous transformation; 1 (1.8%) sarcoma was found. Chemotherapy was given as palliative treatment in 34 (58.6%) patients, as neo-adjuvant therapy in 19 (32.8%) cases and as adjuvant therapy in 5 (8.6%) patients. The overall response rate was 72.3% (CR = 51.7%), with a mean duration of response of 18+ months. The disease-free survival so far amounts to 24/58 (41.4%). Squamous cell carcinoma does not respond to M-VEC. Locally advanced bladder cancer (T3-4 NO-2 MO) responds significantly better than metastatic (M1) disease (78.5% vs 56.2%), resulting in an increased survival rate (57% versus 12.5%) after 22 months. The toxicity of M-VEC is considerably lower than has been reported for other regimens (M-VAC, CMV, CM). The toxic effects included mucositis (3%), nadir sepsis (2.4%) and drug-related death (2.4%).