Cisplatin versus carboplatin-based chemotherapy in inoperable or recurrent urothelial carcinoma: A retrospective analysis

14558 Background: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy represents the standard for patients with inoperable or recurrent urothelial carcinoma. Carboplatin-based chemotherapy is reserved for not-fit-for-cisplatin patients. Recent data suggest that carboplatin-based chemotherapy may be effective in fit-for-cisplatin patients. We examined the differences in the outcome according to the compound used as first-line treatment. Methods: We selected patients who received first-line combination chemotherapy based on cisplatin or carboplatin. The major end point was survival. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, while cox regression analysis was used for multivariate models. Results: 445 patients, treated with cisplatin (330) or carboplatin (115)-based chemotherapy were included in this analysis. After a median follow-up of 52 months, there was no significant difference in survival between the two treatment groups (Table). Subgroup analyses according to PS, distant metastases, Hb, weight loss, showed that the use of cisplatin was independently associated with improved survival only in the PS 2,3 subgroup (see Table). When patients were stratified according to the Bajorin prognostic criteria (PS 0,1 vs. 2,3 and/or distant metastases yes vs. no; J Clin Oncol 1999, 17: 3173), again cisplatin-based chemotherapy was associated with a trend towards improved outcome only in the worst prognostic group (Table). Conclusions: Carboplatin-based chemotherapy may be equally effective to cisplatin-based treatment in patients with inoperable or recurrent urothelial cancer and no or one adverse factors. Cisplatin-based treatment may be beneficial in patients with poor prognosis. Nevertheless, the clinical relevance of this superiority is limited due to the poor outcome and the poor tolerance of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy in this group of patients. (see Table) Median survival (95% CI) after first-line chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.