Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Transitional Cell Cancer of the Urothelium

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and carboplatin vs methotrexate, carboplatin, and vinblastine in patients with transitional cell cancer of the urothelium who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

• Compare the toxicity and acute and intermediate (1-2 years) side effects of these regimens in these patients.

• Compare the complete response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

• Compare the symptoms and quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive methotrexate* IV and vinblastine IV on days 1, 15, and 22 and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 1. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

• Arm II: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 1. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

NOTE: * Methotrexate is omitted for patients with pleural effusion or ascites until complete resolution and for patients with a glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min or creatinine greater than 2 mg/dL

Patients in either arm who achieve a complete response (CR) receive 2 additional courses of chemotherapy beyond CR.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, after every 2 courses of chemotherapy, and within 6 weeks of completion of therapy.

Patients are followed within 6 weeks, every 3 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 156 patients (78 per treatment arm) will be accrued for the phase II portion of this study. A total of 225 patients will be accrued for the phase II + III portions of this study within 5 years.