Researchers in Greece say they have received encouraging results for the treatment of bladder cancer using platinum-based treatments.

Results published in the September edition of European Urology show that the combination of Taxotere (docetaxel) and cisplatin yielded high remission rates and improved the prospects for patients with no residual tumour.

The phase II trial marks the latest examination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its contribution to the survival of patients with advanced bladder cancer.

Using a total of 50 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer, researchers tested a combination of Taxotere and cisplatin.

Patients were then examined, with the study producing data from a five year clinical trial.

Whilst results continue to throw up anomalies it appears that the treatment is having a positive influence.

The latest analysis taken together with the new findings - a total of ten separate clinical trials - suggests that platinum-based combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of death by 13 per cent.