VTE Incidence Higher With Gemcitabine, Carboplatin in Urothelial Carcinoma

Incidence of vascular thromboembolic events (VTEs) in patients with metastatic or unresectable urothelial carcinoma treated with gemcitabine and carboplatin may be higher than expected, according to a recent study published online ahead of print in Cancer.¹

Researchers led by Christopher Tully, MD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY, retrospectively looked at 198 patients with urothelial carcinoma who received gemcitabine and carboplatin; gemcitabine, carboplatin, and bevacizumab; or gemcitabine and cisplatin.

VTEs were considered to be treatment-related if they occurred during treatment or within 4 weeks of completion, defined as either venous or arterial thrombosis.

Among the observed patients, VTEs occurred in 13 of 51 patients (26%) who were treated with gemcitabine, carboplatin, and bevacizumab; 22 of 92 patients (24%) treated with gemcitabine and carboplatin; and 8 of 55 patients (15%) treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin.

Incidence and type of VTE did not differ by type of chemotherapy, and prior cystectomy was associated with an increased risk of VTE.

They noted that incidence of VTE in patients treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin was similar to prior reports. However, incidence in those treated with gemcitabine and carboplatin was greater than 20%, which was not previously defined in patients with urothelial carcinoma.

Reference

1. Tully CM, Apolo AB, Zabor EC, et al. The high incidence of vascular thromboembolic events in patients with metastatic or unresectable urothelial cancer treated with platinum chemotherapy agents [published online ahead of print November 30, 2015]. Cancer. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29801.