[[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) in the treatment of invasive urothelial tumors of the bladder. Preliminary results of a prospective study concerning 22 patients].

Twenty two patients with transitional cell bladder carcinoma (T greater than or equal to 2 Mo) received 2 or 3 courses of systemic chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, doxorubicin 60 mg/m2, cisplatinum 100 mg/m2) prior to total (18) or partial (18) cystectomy. Response rate was appreciated on the pathologic findings of the surgically removed bladders (pTNM): 5 tumor progression (23%); 8 tumor stability (36%); 3 partial remission (14%); 4 complete remission (18%), 2 pTo after complete transurethral resection (9%). These results lead us to conclude that: the rate of tumor progression and stability was too high. Further experience will require a more effective preoperative treatment; clinical staging dramatically underestimates tumor spread; prognosis of non responders is quite poor: 7 deaths with a maximum follow-up of 6 months.