Twenty-two patients with operable bladder carcinoma (stage T3, T2, and T1m “high risk”), all G3–G4 except 2, have been recommended for 3 courses of methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, and cisplatin (M-VEC). Eight pathological Complete Responses (38%) and 4 Partial Responses (19%) have been observed. Preliminary survival data are encouraging (3 year disease-free period: 67% of all the patients, 83% and 75% in complete and partial response) and warrant further studies of neoadjuvant therapy.
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