title: Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin-vinblastine in malignant mesothelioma.
abstract: From June 1985 to March 1993, 20 consecutive patients with histologically proven malignant mesothelioma were treated with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 i.v. infusion on day 1 and vinblastine 6 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and 8. Treatment was repeated every 4 weeks until progression. All patients were evaluated clinically and by CT-scan and were staged (Stage IV), according to Butchard's criteria, on entry to the study. None had prior surgical excision. Eighty-one chemotherapy cycles were administered to 20 patients. One complete response, four partial responses, nine stable diseases and six progressions were noted. One partial responder entered complete response following an operation. Toxicity was acceptable and no treatment-related deaths occurred. The median survival for responders was 19.3 months; for patients with stable disease 15.7 months and for non-responders, 5.2 months. The mean duration of response was 13 months. We conclude that for this small group of patients, the combination cisplatin-vinblastine is effective, with acceptable toxicity in malignant mesothelioma. Further study with a larger number of patients is necessary.
authors: Department of Pathologic Physiology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, Greece.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Tsavaris
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mylonakis
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Karvounis
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bacoyiannis
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Briasoulis
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Skarlos
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Pavlidis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Stamatelos
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kosmidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin