title: Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: new cytostatic agents.
abstract: The literature on new cytostatic drugs in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and on new methods for administration of established drugs has been reviewed back to 1985. Two well-known cytostatic drugs, ifosfamide and etoposide, have been evaluated in trials using oral administration instead of the usual intravenous route, and a total of 26 new investigative drugs has also been evaluated. Oral administration of etoposide is associated with an accumulated response rate of 17% in four studies using a dose of 50 mg/m2 daily for 2-3 weeks, followed by 1 week's rest. Oral administration of ifosfamide yields an accumulated response rate of 18% when the dose intensity is 7 g or more during a 4-week period. Among the new drugs tested, the most promising seem to be campthothecin-11, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, taxol, fotemustine, and zeniplatin which have all shown response rates above 20% among previously untreated patients. Also, the antimetabolites 10-EDAM and trimetrexate and the platinum analogues carboplatin and (glycolate-0,0) diammine-platinum(II) are of interest, with cumulative response rates above 15% in previously untreated patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sorensen
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds