title: Toxicity of FED chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Twenty-eight patients with metastatic and/or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer were treated with a new sequential combination of escalating doses of cisplatin (50, 75, and 100 mg/m2 IV X 1) followed by 5-FU infusion (40 mg/m2/hour X 72) and etoposide (80 mg/m2/day X 3). Three patients received concurrent external radiation therapy. Eleven of the 28 (39%) had a partial response to chemotherapy. Four others had a minor response. One partial responder became a complete responder by surgical excision of residual cancer. Median time to response was 6 weeks followed by a median response duration of 4 months. In responders, chemotherapy was discontinued at the time of maximal response. Median survival was 7 months. Chemotherapy was well tolerated with absence of leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting in a majority of courses. The common toxicities were alopecia (100%), leucopenia (35%), nausea and vomiting (30%), and electrolyte imbalances (27%). Reversible nephrotoxicity, thrombocytopenia, anemia, mucositis, and diarrhea were infrequent. The response rate in stage IV was less than in stage III. The combination of moderate doses of cisplatin, 5-FU infusion, and etoposide provides a new palliative chemotherapy that is well tolerated with concurrent/sequential radiation therapy and may be useful in the multimodality treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil