Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine

Aim: Second-line chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains a significant clinical challenge, with limited high-level evidence guiding regimen selection. Vinflunine is the only agent approved by the European Medicines Agency for this setting, while taxanes are widely used off-label b...

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Main Authors: Bilgin Demir, Ali Aytaç, Gökhan Çolak, Onur Yazdan Balçık, Ömer Acar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Publishing House 2025-08-01
Series:Acta Haematologica Oncologica Turcica
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Online Access:https://www.actaoncologicaturcica.com/articles/second-line-chemotherapy-for-advanced-bladder-cancer-taxanes-versus-vinflunine/doi/ahot.galenos.2025.2025-7-2
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author Bilgin Demir
Ali Aytaç
Gökhan Çolak
Onur Yazdan Balçık
Ömer Acar
author_facet Bilgin Demir
Ali Aytaç
Gökhan Çolak
Onur Yazdan Balçık
Ömer Acar
author_sort Bilgin Demir
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Second-line chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains a significant clinical challenge, with limited high-level evidence guiding regimen selection. Vinflunine is the only agent approved by the European Medicines Agency for this setting, while taxanes are widely used off-label based on phase 2 data. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated at Aydın Adnan Menderes University between 2013 and 2022. Eligible patients had received at least three months of second-line chemotherapy with either vinflunine or taxane-based regimens (docetaxel or paclitaxel). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events were compared between groups. Results: Among 38 patients receiving second-line therapy, 25 (65.8%) were treated with taxanes and 13 (34.2%) with vinflunine. Median PFS was significantly longer in the taxane group (4.9 vs. 2.2 months; p=0.001). Median OS favored taxanes numerically (13.2 vs. 4.33 months) but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.068). ORR was higher in the taxane group (52% vs. 23.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.87). Adverse event profiles were consistent with known toxicities. Conclusion: This single-center retrospective study suggests that taxane-based regimens may offer superior PFS compared to vinflunine in the second-line treatment of advanced UC, despite the lack of statistically significant OS benefit. Given limitations in access to immunotherapy and targeted agents, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains essential, underscoring the need for further prospective trials to define optimal second-line strategies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 3061-9947
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Galenos Publishing House
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series Acta Haematologica Oncologica Turcica
spelling doaj-art-4cab9ed6a9164eb3bc10d9ebbafb49f82025-08-20T03:43:50ZengGalenos Publishing HouseActa Haematologica Oncologica Turcica3061-99472025-08-0158215015510.4274/ahot.galenos.2025.2025-7-2Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus VinflunineBilgin Demir0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4380-9419Ali Aytaç1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9753-8517Gökhan Çolak2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3802-461XOnur Yazdan Balçık3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3386-2075Ömer Acar4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4408-1976Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Aydın, TürkiyeMehmet Akif İnan Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Medical Oncology, Şanlıurfa, TürkiyeAydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Aydın, TürkiyeAlanya Alaaddin Keykubat University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya, TürkiyeMardin Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Medical Oncology, Mardin, TürkiyeAim: Second-line chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains a significant clinical challenge, with limited high-level evidence guiding regimen selection. Vinflunine is the only agent approved by the European Medicines Agency for this setting, while taxanes are widely used off-label based on phase 2 data. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic bladder cancer treated at Aydın Adnan Menderes University between 2013 and 2022. Eligible patients had received at least three months of second-line chemotherapy with either vinflunine or taxane-based regimens (docetaxel or paclitaxel). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events were compared between groups. Results: Among 38 patients receiving second-line therapy, 25 (65.8%) were treated with taxanes and 13 (34.2%) with vinflunine. Median PFS was significantly longer in the taxane group (4.9 vs. 2.2 months; p=0.001). Median OS favored taxanes numerically (13.2 vs. 4.33 months) but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.068). ORR was higher in the taxane group (52% vs. 23.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.87). Adverse event profiles were consistent with known toxicities. Conclusion: This single-center retrospective study suggests that taxane-based regimens may offer superior PFS compared to vinflunine in the second-line treatment of advanced UC, despite the lack of statistically significant OS benefit. Given limitations in access to immunotherapy and targeted agents, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains essential, underscoring the need for further prospective trials to define optimal second-line strategies.https://www.actaoncologicaturcica.com/articles/second-line-chemotherapy-for-advanced-bladder-cancer-taxanes-versus-vinflunine/doi/ahot.galenos.2025.2025-7-2urothelial carcinomasecond-line chemotherapytaxanesvinflunine
spellingShingle Bilgin Demir
Ali Aytaç
Gökhan Çolak
Onur Yazdan Balçık
Ömer Acar
Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
Acta Haematologica Oncologica Turcica
urothelial carcinoma
second-line chemotherapy
taxanes
vinflunine
title Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
title_full Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
title_fullStr Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
title_full_unstemmed Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
title_short Second-line Chemotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer: Taxanes Versus Vinflunine
title_sort second line chemotherapy for advanced bladder cancer taxanes versus vinflunine
topic urothelial carcinoma
second-line chemotherapy
taxanes
vinflunine
url https://www.actaoncologicaturcica.com/articles/second-line-chemotherapy-for-advanced-bladder-cancer-taxanes-versus-vinflunine/doi/ahot.galenos.2025.2025-7-2
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AT onuryazdanbalcık secondlinechemotherapyforadvancedbladdercancertaxanesversusvinflunine
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