Phase II study of paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with advanced carcinoma of the urothelium and renal dysfunction (E2896): a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: Chemotherapy options for the patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma and renal dysfunction are limited. The authors performed a Phase II trial of paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with advanced carcinoma of the urothelium and renal dysfunction.

Methods: Forty-two patients were accrued; 37 eligible patients were treated. Patients received paclitaxel 225 mg/m(2) over three hours followed by carboplatin targeted area under the concentration-time curve = 6 mg/mL. minute every three weeks for up to six cycles.

Results: The median number of cycles received was four (range, one to six). The objective response rate was 24.3% (95% confidence interval, 11.9-41.7%). The median progression free survival was 3 months and the median overall survival was 7.1 months. The number of poor prognostic risk factors (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status > 1 or lung, liver, or bone metastases) significantly predicted for survival. The most common > or = 1 Grade 3 toxicities included granulocytopenia (60%) and neurotoxicity (35%).

Conclusions: Paclitaxel/carboplatin is a chemotherapy option for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma and renal dysfunction. Future trials in chemotherapy development for this patient population are warranted.