title: Platinum/oral etoposide therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Encouraging response rates have been observed with long-term daily administration of oral etoposide to treat lung cancer. Reasons why EP (etoposide/cisplatin) has been used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), despite the fact that etoposide has demonstrated only a modest degree of activity against this disease, are preclinical suggestions of cisplatin/etoposide synergism and successful results for the combination in treating small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We evaluated a long-term daily oral etoposide regimen in combination with cisplatin for NSCLC. One course consisted of cisplatin on day 1 and etoposide from day 1 through day 21. The course was repeated, beginning at day 29. We concluded that the maximum tolerated dose in this schedule was 50 mg/m2/day oral etoposide for 21 days plus 80 mg/m2 intravenous (i.v.) cisplatin on day 1. The major dose-limiting toxic effect was myelosuppression, and mucositis was also significant in some patients. During this phase I study of 22 patients (18 evaluable), we observed partial responses (PRs) in 4 patients, 1 each with uterine cancer and SCLC, and 2 with squamous cell lung cancers. We then designed a phase II pilot study in patients with advanced NSCLC. The recommended treatment schedule is 80 mg/m2 i.v. cisplatin on day 1 plus 40 mg/m2/day oral etoposide for 21 consecutive days. Of the 13 evaluable patients, PRs were observed in 4 (30.8%), in 2 patients with adenocarcinoma and 2 with squamous cell carcinoma. None of the side effects were severe or life-threatening. Nearly all of the projected doses were given, with delays of 7-10 days. In this pilot phase II study, the response rate of advanced NSCLC was above 30%. Future studies should combine long-term administration of oral etoposide with radiation therapy or surgery to treat stage III NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Kinki Central Hospital for Chest Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuse
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010976:Platelet Count
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin