Mitomycin, cisplatin, and vindesine followed by radiotherapy combined with cisplatin in stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer: long-term results.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the tolerance, response rate, pattern of failure, and long-term survival of patients with unresectable nonsmall cell lung cancer treated with one cycle of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent cisplatin and radiotherapy.


METHODS
From 1986 to 1988, 45 patients with histologically proven nonsmall cell lung cancer clinical Stage III (29 IIIA and 16 IIIB) were included in this study. Patients received one cycle of Mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 day 1, Cisplatin 120 mg/m2 day 1, and Vindesine 3 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, and 22, by i.v. bolus injection. Radiotherapy was started within 4-6 weeks after completion of chemotherapy, with a total tumor dose of 60 Gy, at 2 Gy/day. Cisplatin, 20 mg/m2/day by i.v. continuous infusion was administered for days 1-5 of radiation treatment.


RESULTS
The main toxic acute effects were nausea-vomiting grade 1-3 in 38 patients (85%). Ten patients (22%) developed esophagitis grade 3. Leukopenia grade 1-2 was observed in 18 patients (40%), grade 3 in 12 (27%), and grade 4 in 4 (9%). Three patients (6.6%) died by granulocytopenia and sepsis. A bronchoscopic proven complete response was achieved in 9 patients (21.5%) and partial response in 28 patients (67%). With a minimum follow-up of 65 months, overall median survival was 13 months, 2-year survival was 21%, and 5-year survival was 7%, with no statistical difference between Stage IIIA and IIIB. Median survival of patients with complete response was 23.2 months, and 5-year survival was 33%.


CONCLUSIONS
This treatment scheme produced a severe toxicity and in spite of a high response rate, long-term survival is poor, similar to previous studies with radiotherapy alone.
Tejedor
M
M
Department of Oncology, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Valerdi
J J
JJ
López
R
R
Domínguez
M A
MA
Arias
F
F
Illarramendi
J J
JJ
Martínez
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D008937:Mitomycins; D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine