Combination chemotherapy and interferon alpha 2b in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The Italian Lung Cancer Task Force (FONICAP).
Thirty-four patients with previously untreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of polychemotherapy and recombinant interferon. Chemotherapy consisted of cyclophosphamide, 400 mg/m2, epidoxorubicin, 50 mg/m2, and cisplatin, 40 mg/m2 (CAP) i.v. on day 4; recombinant alpha 2b interferon (r alpha 2b IFN) was given i.m. daily at the dose of 3-5 MU from days 1 to 7. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. In the 32 eligible patients the overall response rate was 19.3% (95% C.L. 7.4-37.4%). Non-hematologic toxicity consisted formerly in flulike symptoms and fatigue complained of by 37.5% and 31.2% of patients, respectively, and vomiting reported in 68.7% of patients; grade III-IV myelotoxicity was observed in 12.5% of cases. In no case was the toxicity life threatening. The median overall actuarial survival and progression-free survival were 37 and 20 weeks, respectively. This study indicates that the combination of CAP chemotherapy and r alpha IFN is feasible and active in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
Ardizzoni
A
A
Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto nazionale per la ricerca sul cancro, Genova, Italy.
Rosso
R
R
Salvati
F
F
Scagliotti
G
G
Soresi
E
E
Ferrara
G
G
Pennucci
C
C
Baldini
E
E
Cruciani
A R
AR
Antilli
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin