Phase II study of adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, levamisole, and irradiation in carcinoma of the bladder.

Since July 1976, 19 patients with carcinoma of the bladder have been treated with adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, and levamisole combined with radiotherapy (60 Gy [6000 radsA1/24 fractions/6 weeks). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were initiated simultaneously, with the entire treatment lasting 7--8 months. Three months after the completion of radiotherapy, 14 of the 18 patients in whom cystoscopy was performed were found to be in complete remission. Overall, 17 of the 19 patients have responded to the treatment and 15 patients have at some time shown complete remission. The toxic effects seen were myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of weight, and alopecia. Thirteen patients received the entire treatment as outpatients while six patients had to be hospitalized for a period of 8--14 days because of severe side effects, especially in Weeks 3--8. Serious complications such as bowel perforation were not seen, but one patient died with septicemia as a result of agranulocytosis, which was attributed to the treatment with levamisole.