Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Despite local therapy most patients with muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder die of systemic relapse, indicating a need for effective adjunctive systemic treatment. We determined whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved overall survival.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed of all known randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stages II and III TCC conducted between 1984 and 2002.