Final results of EORTC intergroup randomized phase III trial comparing immediate versus deferred chemotherapy after radical cystectomy in patients with pT3T4 and/or N+ M0 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

4500 Background: Patients (pts) with muscle invasive TCC of the bladder have poor overall survival (OS) due to systemic disease at diagnosis. This randomized intergroup phase III trial compared immediate vs deferred chemotherapy after radical cystectomy in pts with pT3T4 and/or N+ M0 TCC of the bladder. Methods: Within 90 days after cystectomy, pts were randomized to 4 cycles of GC, HD-MVAC or MVAC adjuvant chemotherapy or 6 cycles of deferred chemotherapy at relapse. Main endpoint was OS with PFS a secondary endpoint. Analysis was by intent-to-treat using Cox models stratified by group and adjusted for T stage (pT1T2 vs pT3T4) and nodal status (N- vs N+). Results: 284 of 660 pts were enrolled in 63 sites from 13 countries from 4/2002 to 8/2008 when the trial closed for poor accrual. Follow up (f/u) continued for 5 yrs to 8/2013. Pt characteristics were well balanced in the treatment groups; median age was 61 yrs with similar pT and nodal status (70% N+). Most received GC. Median and maximum f/u is 7.0 an...