[Combination chemotherapy of methotrexate, etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (M-EAP) for advanced urothelial cancer].

Combination chemotherapy with methotrexate, etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (M-EAP regimen) was administered to 4 patients with advanced epithelial cancer of the urinary tract (Methotrexate 30 mg/M2 day 1, 15 and 22; Etoposide 100 mg/M2 day 1, 2, 15 and 22; Adriamycin 30 mg/M2 day 2; Cisplatin 70 mg/M2 day 2, every 4 weeks). In an attempt to improve the anti-cancer effect of the M-VAC regimen, etoposide was substituted for vinblastine. This series comprised 3 males and 1 female ranging in age from 54 to 68 years (mean age: 63), with a performance status of 1 to 2. The site of the primary lesion was bladder in 3, and left ureter in 1. The clinical response was assessed in 3 of the 4 patients: one achieved complete response and two had partial response. Two of the four died of disease 5 months after chemotherapy. Two of them have been alive for 10 and 8 months with no evidence of disease after chemotherapy. Toxicity included moderate or severe myelosuppression in two patients, and mild to moderate anorexia, vomiting, alopecia, and hiccups in all patients. These preliminary results suggest that the M-EAP regimen is effective against advanced epithelial carcinoma of the urinary tract. However, myelosuppression was a dose-limiting factor.