[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscular invasive bladder cancer: Complications and consequences with cystectomy]

Abstract

Introduction: The fear of the deterioration of the patient's condition related to the toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a barrier to its development. This multicenter retrospective study aims to present the secondary effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its impact on the achievement of cystectomy.

Materials and methods: Patients with urothelial carcinoma classified cT2 to cT4a N0M0 were included. Chemotherapy with 6 cycles of MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin) followed by a cysto-prostatectomy or anterior pelvectomy was scheduled.

Results: A total 32 patients were included. Six cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were performed in all 11 patients. Shutdown causes were toxicity in 85% of cases. Cystectomy was performed in 86.6% of patients. Surgery was not performed in 6 patients. The reasons were the alteration of the general condition in 2 cases, 2 patients had advanced cancers diagnosed intraoperatively, and 2 refused surgery. Complications of grades 3 and 4 according to the classification of Clavien and Dindo had occurred respectively in 15.3% and 11.5%.

Discussion: This study reports results close to what is found in the literature on the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on achieving cystectomy, but it has some limitations: the retrospective analysis of data on surgery and the lack of control group. In addition, the short follow-up does not yet allow to know the long-term oncological results.

Conclusion: This study supports the fact that the toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not seem to cause a significant risk of non-completion of cystectomy.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords: Cancer de vessie envahissant le muscle; Chimiothérapie néoadjuvante; Cystectomie; Cystectomy; Muscle-invasive bladder cancer; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy.