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Journal of Clinical Oncology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Oncology
. 2009 Sep 28;27(33):5634–5639. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.21.4924

Randomized Phase II/III Trial Assessing Gemcitabine/ Carboplatin and Methotrexate/Carboplatin/Vinblastine in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Cancer “Unfit” for Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: Phase II—Results of EORTC Study 30986

Maria De Santis 1,, Joaquim Bellmunt 1, Graham Mead 1, J Martijn Kerst 1, Michael Leahy 1, Pablo Maroto 1, Iwona Skoneczna 1, Sandrine Marreaud 1, Ronald de Wit 1, Richard Sylvester 1
PMCID: PMC2792956  PMID: 19786668

Abstract

Purpose

There is no standard treatment for patients with advanced urothelial cancer who are ineligible (“unfit”) for cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CHT). To compare the activity and safety of two CHT combinations in this patient group, a randomized phase II/III trial was conducted by the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer). We report here the phase II results of the study.

Patients and Methods

CHT-naïve patients with measurable disease and impaired renal function (30 mL/min < glomerular filtration rate [GFR] < 60 mL/min) and/or performance status (PS) 2 were randomly assigned to receive either GC (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin area under the serum concentration-time curve [AUC] 4.5) for 21 days or M-CAVI (methotrexate 30 mg/m2 on days 1, 15, and 22; carboplatin AUC 4.5 on day 1; and vinblastine 3 mg/m2 on days 1, 15, and 22) for 28 days. End points of response and severe acute toxicity (SAT) were evaluated with respect to treatment group, renal function, PS, and Bajorin risk groups.

Results

Three of 178 patients who were ineligible or did not start treatment were excluded. SAT was reported in 13.6% of patients on GC and in 23% on M-CAVI. Overall response rates were 42% (37 of 88) for GC and 30% (26 of 87) for M-CAVI. Patients with PS 2 and GFR less than 60 mL/min and patients in Bajorin risk group 2 showed a response rate of only 26% and 20% and an SAT rate of 26% and 25%, respectively.

Conclusion

Both combinations are active in this group of unfit patients. However, patients with PS 2 and GFR less than 60 mL/min do not benefit from combination CHT. Alternative treatment modalities should be sought in this subgroup of poor-risk patients.

INTRODUCTION

Up to 50% of patients with urothelial cancer are not eligible (“unfit”) for cisplatin-based standard chemotherapy because of impaired renal function, performance status, or comorbidity.14 So far, no standard chemotherapy has been established for this patient group.5

Carboplatin-based regimens are widely used as an alternative to cisplatin combination chemotherapy in unfit patients. Carboplatin is a platinum analog that is less nephrotoxic than cisplatin, but it appears to be slightly inferior.69 Methotrexate/carboplatin/vinblastine (M-CAVI) is a well-tolerated palliative combination chemotherapy regimen with a response rate (RR) of 30% to 57% and a median survival of about 9 months.914 A number of new agents and combinations have been explored to reduce toxicity and improve efficacy in the treatment of urothelial cancer. Among them is gemcitabine, a pyrimidine antimetabolite, that provides an RR of approximately 25% when used as a monotherapy.1519 Gemcitabine is well tolerated and can be safely used in patients with impaired renal function (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] ≥ 30 mL/min).20

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Genitourinary Tract Cancer (EORTC GU) group has categorized patients with urothelial cancer to be “fit” or “unfit” for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy in order to develop separate investigational strategies in these patients.12,21 Patients unfit for cisplatin therapy were defined by either performance status (PS) 2 and/or impaired renal function (GFR < 60 mL/min).

For this randomized phase II/III trial, a feasibility study was conducted to define a recommended dose of gemcitabine/carboplatin in the group of patients unfit for cisplatin. Fixed-dose gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) 5 on day 1 at dose level 1 showed dose-limiting myelotoxicity. At one dose level lower, with carboplatin AUC 4.5, the regimen was well tolerated and recommended for further investigation.22

This phase II/III study aimed to assess the activity and toxicity of two carboplatin combinations—one with methotrexate and vinblastine and the other with gemcitabine—in patients with advanced urothelial transitional-cell carcinoma ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The phase II results are reported here.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients

Patients with histologically proven transitional-cell carcinoma of the urinary tract (including renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder), unresected lymph node(s) (N+), distant metastases (M1, stage IV) or unresectable primary bladder cancer (T3-4), and with measurable disease as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)23 were included in this trial. Lesions occurring in tissues that had been previously irradiated were to be assessed only if irradiation treatment had been completed at least 3 months earlier and if the lesions had since progressed or were new. No previous systemic treatment, either cytotoxic or biologic, was allowed. All patients had to be ineligible (unfit) for cisplatin-based chemotherapy, defined by either a WHO PS 2 and/or an impaired renal function (GFR > 30 but < 60 mL/min). GFR could be assessed by direct measurement (ethylenediaminetetra-acetate or creatinine clearance) or, if not available, by calculation from serum/plasma creatinine.24 Corrected serum calcium was to be within the normal limits.

Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule was required. Fertile men and potentially childbearing women were required to use an appropriate contraceptive method during and for 6 months after completion of chemotherapy. Patients with previous systemic chemotherapy (including adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy); inadequate bone marrow function (WBC < 4,000/μL or platelets < 125,000/μL); liver function impairment (bilirubin > 1.25× upper limit of normal [ULN] and/or AST/ALT > 3× ULN; in the case of known liver metastases AST/ALT > 5× ULN); presence of brain metastases or other CNS lesions; a concomitant, second, or previous malignancy except for cured basal-cell skin cancer; carcinoma in situ of the cervix; and pregnant or lactating women were all ineligible.

The protocol was approved by the ethics review board of the participating institutions. Before randomization, written informed consent was obtained from all patients in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable guidelines for good clinical practice, and applicable laws and regulations of the countries where the study was conducted, whichever represented the greater protection of the individual.

Treatment Schedule

Patients were centrally randomly assigned by the EORTC Headquarters to receive either gemcitabine/carboplatin (GC) or M-CAVI, using the minimization technique with stratification for PS, renal function (GFR), and institution. Patients on M-CAVI received methotrexate 30 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 15, and 22. However, it was omitted in patients presenting pleural effusions or ascites until complete resolution. Vinblastine 3 mg/m2 IV was given on days 1, 15, and 22. Carboplatin doses in milligrams were calculated as 4.5 × (GFR + 25) given over 1 hour IV on day 1 in both treatment arms and given every 4 weeks on the M-CAVI treatment arm. Patients allocated to GC received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes IV on days 1 and 8, followed by carboplatin on day 1, every 3 weeks.

Treatment was continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. In case of complete response, two more cycles were to be given. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) was allowed and documented but reserved for those patients in whom the recommended dose modifications were insufficient.

On both treatment arms, cycles were not started unless WBC was ≥ 3,000/μg, ANC ≥ 1,500/μg, and platelets were ≥ 100,000/μg. On the M-CAVI arm, treatment was withheld on days 15 and 22 if these values were not reached. Gemcitabine was given with 50% dose reduction if WBC was 1,000 to 1,900/g or ANC was 500 to 1,000/g or platelets were 50,000 to 99,000/μg, or withheld when any value was below these limits. If patients required more than 2 weeks for hematologic recovery, or if there was grade 4 neutropenia with fever, or grade 4 thrombocytopenia for more than 3 days, or thrombocytopenia with active bleeding during the nadir, treatment was continued with 75% of all drugs in both treatment arms.

On both arms, dose was adjusted for nonhematologic toxicity, including mucositis. Although prophylactic leucovorin was not allowed, leucovorin was permitted 24 hours after methotrexate administration in patients experiencing grade 3 or 4 mucositis. Grade 3 and 4 nonhematologic toxicities required 25% dose reduction and withdrawal from the study or continuation with 50% dose (at the discretion of the investigator), respectively.

Because of toxicity concerns on the M-CAVI arm, an amendment to the protocol was implemented in February 2002, specifying that “methotrexate should be omitted when the GFR is less than 30 mL/min or the serum creatinine level is more than 2 mg/dL. The dose of methotrexate is to be reduced by 50% if the serum creatinine level is between 1.5 and 2.0 mg/dL.”

Treatment Evaluation

The primary objective of the phase II part of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity (objective tumor response) and toxicity of the two treatment arms. Toxicity was evaluated using Common Toxicity Criteria, version 2.0. During treatment, blood counts and serum creatinine were determined weekly. Before each chemotherapy cycle, history, physical examination, blood count, blood chemistries (serum creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, lactate dehydrogenase, GFR, and calcium) and measured or calculated creatinine clearance were required. In addition, before start of treatment, height, ECG, and cystoscopy (if the primary tumor was to be evaluated) were performed.

Tumor measurements were assessed radiologically (computed tomography scans, chest x-ray) before start of treatment and after every two cycles, with response assessed according to the RECIST.23 It was strongly recommended to confirm the responses to fulfill RECIST requirements. However, they could not always be confirmed after a minimum of 4 weeks ( Discussion).

Statistical Considerations: Study Objectives

Because of limited experience with GC in unfit patients, the study started as a randomized phase II trial to simultaneously assess activity and toxicity of the two regimens. If the RR (complete response plus partial response) was sufficiently high and the severe acute toxicity (SAT) rate was acceptably low, the two treatment regimens would be further studied in a phase III setting. The two-stage Bryant and Day design25 was used, which takes into account both RR and toxicity.

SAT was defined as the occurrence of any of the following events, either directly or at least possibly related to treatment administration: mucositis grade 3 or 4, thrombocytopenia grade 4 associated with bleeding, neutropenic fever grade 3 or 4, renal toxicity grade 3 or 4, and death. An RR of 45% and an SAT rate of 15% were considered as acceptable for continuation in phase III. Response and SAT rates of 30% were considered to be unacceptable.

With α = .20 and β =.05, each arm of the study was conducted in two steps. In the first step, 45 patients would be registered on each treatment. If 13 or fewer responses were observed on any arm, that arm would be stopped because of an inadequate RR. If 14 or more patients with SAT were observed on any arm, that arm would be stopped because of excessive toxicity. Otherwise the trial would be kept open until a total of 78 patients had been entered on each arm. In the second step, if 26 or fewer responses were observed among these 78 patients, it would be concluded that the regimen was not sufficiently active to warrant further testing. If 20 or more patients with SAT were observed, it would be concluded that the regimen should not be studied further because of excessive toxicity. If 27 or more responses and 19 patients or fewer with SAT were observed on each arm, then the trial would be continued as a randomized phase III study.

Patients were centrally randomly assigned by the EORTC Headquarters to receive either GC or M-CAVI, using the minimization technique with stratification for PS, renal function (GFR), and institution.

RESULTS

The phase II part of the study was open for enrollment between January 2001 and June 2005. There was one preplanned stop in recruitment between June 2003 and March 2004 after 112 patients had been accrued to determine whether the criteria for proceeding to the second step had been met.

A total of 178 patients from 28 institutions in 12 countries were randomly assigned, 89 on each treatment arm. The sample size was extended slightly because it was unknown how many patients would ultimately be eligible and start treatment. Three patients were excluded: one patient on M-CAVI who was ineligible (no lesion), and one patient on each arm who did not start treatment (one refused, one died after hip surgery). Therefore, 88 patients on GC and 87 on M-CAVI fulfilled the criteria for toxicity and activity evaluation (Fig 1).

Fig 1.

Fig 1.

CONSORT diagram. GC, gemcitabine plus carboplatin; M-CAVI, methotrexate plus carboplatin plus vinblastine.

Patient characteristics (Table 1) were generally well balanced between the treatment arms, as were the stratification factors (Table 2). There was only a slight imbalance in the distribution of liver and visceral metastases (Table 1).

Table 1.

Patient Characteristics

Characteristic GC(n = 88)
M-CAVI(n = 87)
No. % No. %
Sex
    Male 69 78.4 68 78.2
    Female 19 21.6 19 21.8
Age, years
    Median 71 72
    Range 36-85 34-86
Performance status
    0 15 17.0 12 13.8
    1 37 42.0 39 44.8
    2 36 40.9 36 41.4
    Associated chronic disease (eg, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, depression, peptic ulcers, emphysema) 41 47 39 45
GFR, mL/min
    Median 50 47
    Range 30-125 30-115
    Primary tumor only target 13 14.8 12 13.8
TNM classification of metastases
    M0 18 20.5 23 26.4
    M1 68 77.3 61 70.1
    MX 2 2.3 3 3.4
Visceral metastases
    No 50 56.8 41 47.1
    Yes 38 43.2 46 52.9
Liver involved
    No 70 79.5 60 69.0
    Yes 14 15.9 22 25.3
    Unknown 4 4.5 5 5.7
Bajorin risk group
    0 37 42.0 31 35.6
    1 28 31.8 30 34.5
    2 23 26.1 26 29.9

Abbreviations: GC, gemcitabine/carboplatin; M-CAVI, methotrexate/carboplatin/vincristine; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

Table 2.

Stratification Factors

Factor GC(n = 88)
M-CAVI(n = 87)
No. % No. %
PS 2 only 12 13.6 14 16.1
GFR, < 60 mL/min only 52 59.1 51 58.6
PS 2 and GFR < 60 mL/min 24 27.3 22 25.3

Abbreviations: GC, gemcitabine/carboplatin; M-CAVI, methotrexate/carboplatin/vincristine; PS, performance status; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

Toxicity

The median number of chemotherapy cycles was 4.5 on GC and 3 on M-CAVI (Table 3), with 31 patients receiving only one chemotherapy cycle (12 on GC and 19 on M-CAVI). Dose reductions and delays as well as the need for growth factors are detailed in Table 3. SAT, at least possibly treatment related, was reported in 12 patients (13.6%) on GC and in 20 patients (23.0%) on M-CAVI (Table 4). Mucositis grade 3 occurred in one patient (1.1%) on GC and five patients (5.7%) on M-CAVI, thrombocytopenia grade 4 with bleeding in three patients (3.4%) on GC and zero patients on M-CAVI, neutropenic fever grade 3/4 in five patients (5.7%) on GC and 12 patients (13.8%) on M-CAVI, renal toxicity grade 3/4 in three patients (3.4%) on GC and two patients (2.3%) on M-CAVI, and death due to treatment in two patients (2.3%) on GC and four patients (4.6%) on M-CAVI.

Table 3.

Amount of Chemotherapy, Dose Reductions and Delays, Renal Function Assessment, and Growth Factor Use

Variable GC(n = 88)
M-CAVI(n = 87)
No. % No. %
Chemotherapy cycles
    Median 4.5 3
    Range 1-10 1-23
    > Six cycles 11 12.4 5 5.7
Reason for dose reductions
    Any 63 71.6 73 83.9
    Hematologic 43 48.9 48 55.2
    Renal 7 8.0 13 14.9
Reason for dose delay
    Any 67 76.1 53 60.9
    Hematologic 32 36.4 33 37.9
    Renal 4 4.5 1 1.1
GFR, calculated at least once
    Calculated 78 88.6 78 89.7
    Measured 3 3.4 5 5.7
    EDTA 6 6.8 3 3.4
    GCSF, secondary prophylaxis 5 5.6 10 11.4

Abbreviations: GC, gemcitabine/carboplatin; M-CAVI, methotrexate/carboplatin/vincristine; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetra-acetate; GCSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Table 4.

Results According to Treatment Arm

Treatment Confirmed ORR
Confirmed and Unconfirmed ORR
Confirmed and Unconfirmed CR
Severe Acute Toxicity
No. % No. % No. % No. %
GC (n = 88) 33 38 37 42 3 3.4 12 14
M-CAVI (n = 87) 17 20 26 30 4 4.6 20 23

Abbreviations: ORR, overall response rate; CR, complete response; GC, gemcitabine/carboplatin; M-CAVI, methotrexate/carboplatin/vincristine.

Death related to toxicity occurred after one cycle in four patients (two on GC and two on M-CAVI) and in two patients after two and three cycles on M-CAVI. Reasons for treatment-associated deaths were thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage in one patient on GC and neutropenia and/or infections in all the other cases. The use of secondary GCSF was documented according to the protocol in 10 M-CAVI and five GC patients. In 13 of 15 patients, GCSF was used in only one cycle. Three and four cycles with GCSF were reported in one patient each on GC and M-CAVI, respectively.

Activity

Best confirmed overall response rates (ORRs), complete response plus partial response, were 38% (33 of 88) on GC and 20% (17 of 87) on M-CAVI (Table 4). Complete remissions were rare, with three (3.4%) on each treatment. Thirteen additional patients had unconfirmed responses, 10.3% (nine patients) on the M-CAVI arm versus 4.5% (four patients) on the GC arm.

An analysis of patients according to the number of poor stratification factors is given in Table 5. In a post hoc attempt to evaluate outcome measures in this unfit patient population by using the Bajorin risk groups based on PS and visceral metastases, PS 0 and 1 were transformed into Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 80% and PS 2 was transformed into KPS less than 80%. When adding the presence or absence of visceral metastases, patients were regrouped into three prognostic groups, depending on their number of adverse prognostic factors (Bajorin risk groups 0, 1, or 2).26 RRs and the percentages of SAT as well as the chance of receiving only one chemotherapy cycle differed substantially between these three groups (Table 6) with patients in risk group 2 receiving less treatment, experiencing more SAT, and having a lower RR. These results confirm the validity of the Bajorin prognostic groups in this patient population.

Table 5.

Results According to Stratification Parameters

Stratification Only One Cycle of Therapy*(n = 16/175)
ORR
Severe Acute Toxicity
No. % No. % No. %
PS 2 or GFR < 60 mL/min 7/129 5 51/129 39.5 20/129 15.5
PS 2 and GFR < 60 mL/min 9/46 20 12/46 26.1 12/46 26.1

Abbreviations: ORR, overall response rate (confirmed and unconfirmed); PS, performance status; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.

*

Excluding patients with progression or toxicity as reasons for stopping therapy.

Table 6.

Results According to Bajorin Risk Groups*

Risk Group Only One Cycle of Therapy(n = 16/175)
ORR
Severe Acute Toxicity
No. % No. % No. %
0 (n = 68) 4 6 32 47 11 16
1 (n = 58) 2 3 21 39 9 16
2 (n = 49) 10 20 10 20 12 25

Abbreviation: ORR, confirmed and unconfirmed overall response rate.

*

Predicting outcome of therapy: Karnofsky performance status, < 80%, visceral metastases.26

Excluding patients with progression or toxicity as reasons for stopping therapy.

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized phase II/III trial evaluating two chemotherapy regimens in purely unfit urothelial cancer patients. The categories “fit” and “unfit” as used here, were first defined by the EORTC GU Group for investigating new treatment strategies. The unfit patient groups as well as the elderly and multimorbid groups have been highly underrepresented in clinical trials, not only in urothelial cancer.2732 In our study, there was no age restriction. The median age was 71 to 72 years, which is about 8 to 10 years older than patients in other trials that study cisplatin-based chemotherapy.33,34 Renal function impairment increases with age35 and is a well-known comorbid condition in urothelial cancer patients.1,36 The concept of our study as well as the entry criteria reflect a clinical need that has been poorly addressed so far.

Only recently has more attention been paid to chemotherapy in the elderly and in patients with comorbidities.37,38 Age alone, however, is not necessarily a predictor of physiologic fitness.37 The definition of unfit bladder cancer patients here follows this concept.

In general, chemotherapy dosages are derived from studies with fit patients. This might be the cause for increased toxicity in the elderly and unfit.39,40 Carboplatin-based regimens have been tested extensively in those ineligible for cisplatin therapy.12,13 A 57% RR, comparable to that for standard MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin), has been reported for the carboplatin combination with methotrexate and vinblastine in patients with a median age of 70 years, a KPS of 70%, and a lowered creatinine clearance.14 In that study, Small et al did not observe an appreciably different toxicity rate in patients older than 70 years.14 Of note, a dose-finding study with only unfit patients was performed for the investigational arm of our trial.22 The carboplatin dose of AUC 4.5 was recommended for further investigation and used in both treatment arms in this study. Toxicity of the two regimens under investigation differed in several points. Because of toxicity concerns on M-CAVI, a study protocol amendment was implemented to lower the methotrexate toxicity. Regarding death related to toxicity (2.3% for GC and 4.6% for M-CAVI), a case-by-case review was performed by the study's principal investigators, and a literature search revealed that in chemotherapy studies of different solid tumors and lymphomas with only elderly and unfit patients, death related to toxicity rates between 2.3% and 13.1% have been published.4152 We did not observe a substantial difference in toxicity rates when comparing our data with those of recent MVAC trials without GCSF in fit patients, where approximately 14% neutropenic fever and a 3% to 4% treatment-related mortality were reported.33,53 A direct comparison of the toxicities per treatment arm will be possible in the phase III part of the study. The 14% and 23% SAT rates observed for GC and M-CAVI, respectively, fulfilled the statistical criteria for continuing to phase III. The ORRs of the two regimens were found to be within the expected range (42% for GC and 30% for M-CAVI).

Treatment of this unfit patient group with urothelial cancer turned out to be a challenge. In this regard, this randomized trial reflects daily clinical practice and its difficulties.30 First, a large number of patients who had only one chemotherapy cycle was observed, even when excluding those with progression and toxicity. The reasons were manifold and included patients' refusal of further treatment despite a lack of measurable SAT. Interestingly, the frequency of receiving only one chemotherapy cycle was highest in patients with two poor stratification factors and in those with two Bajorin poor prognostic factors (both 20%). Second, there was an imbalance of unconfirmed responses (four for GC v nine for M-CAVI), the reasons for which were multifactorial, including toxicity, progression, protocol violation, and the decisions of patients and investigators to stop protocol treatment. Third, and most importantly, in those patients (approximately 25%) with two poor stratification or two Bajorin poor risk factors, the ORRs with both GC and M-CAVI were low and toxicity was high. Alternative treatment modalities, other than combination chemotherapy, should be considered in this subgroup of poor-risk patients, as long as a survival benefit from combination chemotherapy that does not contain cisplatin is unproven. Mono-chemotherapy54,55 with the primary goal of palliation, the use of new drugs with alternative mechanisms of action, investigational therapy within clinical trials, or best supportive care might be more reasonable ways to proceed.

In conclusion, as far as we know, this is the first randomized trial evaluating two chemotherapy regimens in unfit urothelial cancer patients. Our results reveal that on GC there is more thrombocytopenia grade 4 with hemorrhage, and on M-CAVI there is more neutropenic fever, mucositis grade 3, and deaths related to toxicity. Both combinations are active in these unfit patients and fulfilled the criteria to continue the phase III part of the study. However, patients with two poor stratification factors did not benefit from combination chemotherapy, and alternative treatment regimens should be investigated.

Acknowledgment

We appreciate the temporary study coordination by G. Kaiser and the contributions of J.J. Croles, T. Gil, J.B. Vermorken, P. Carpentier, I. Billiet, M. Nogue-Aliguer, J.H. Schornagel, W. Kirkels, Th. M. De Reijke, B. Mellado, G. Daugaard, A. Horwich, P. Harper, J. Graham, V. Serretta, A. Bono, I. Bodrogi, A. Sella, and O. Koriakine.

Footnotes

Supported by Grants No. 2U10 CA11488-28 through 5U10 CA011488-38 from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, and by Eli Lilly Study Code B9E-MC-S018.

Presented in part at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, February 14-16, 2008, San Francisco, CA, and at the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, May 30-June 3, 2008, Chicago, IL.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Although all authors completed the disclosure declaration, the following author(s) indicated a financial or other interest that is relevant to the subject matter under consideration in this article. Certain relationships marked with a “U” are those for which no compensation was received; those relationships marked with a “C” were compensated. For a detailed description of the disclosure categories, or for more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to the Author Disclosure Declaration and the Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest section in Information for Contributors.

Employment or Leadership Position: None Consultant or Advisory Role: Joaquim Bellmunt, Eli Lilly (C); Ronald de Wit, Eli Lilly (C) Stock Ownership: None Honoraria: Maria De Santis, Eli Lilly; Joaquim Bellmunt, Eli Lilly; Iwona Skoneczna, Eli Lilly; Ronald de Wit, Eli Lilly Research Funding: None Expert Testimony: None Other Remuneration: None

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Conception and design: Joaquim Bellmunt, Ronald de Wit, Richard Sylvester

Administrative support: Sandrine Marreaud, Richard Sylvester

Provision of study materials or patients: Maria De Santis, Joaquim Bellmunt, Graham Mead, J. Martijn Kerst, Michael Leahy, Pablo Maroto, Iwona Skoneczna

Collection and assembly of data: Richard Sylvester

Data analysis and interpretation: Maria De Santis, Richard Sylvester

Manuscript writing: Maria De Santis

Final approval of manuscript: Maria De Santis, Joaquim Bellmunt, Graham Mead, J. Martijn Kerst, Michael Leahy, Pablo Maroto, Iwona Skoneczna, Sandrine Marreaud, Ronald de Wit, Richard Sylvester

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