title: Carboplatin (CBDCA) plus alpha interferon in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. A Hoosier Oncology Group phase II trial.
abstract: Interferons have been shown to increase in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum compounds. The Hoosier Oncology Group has conducted a Phase II clinical trial to determine if interferon alpha-2a (IFN-alpha-2a) given in combination with carboplatin (CBDCA) can increase response rates or survival in patients with metastatic or recurrent inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer. Forty-four patients with no prior chemotherapy and high KPS (80-100) were enrolled. CBDCA 400 mg/m2 was given intravenously on day 1 and IFN-alpha-2a 9 million units was given subcutaneously on days 1, 3, and 5. Treatment was administered every 4 weeks until onset of progressive disease or to a maximum of 4 courses: 37 patients (84%) received at least 2 courses, whereas only 16 (36%) received the full 4 courses. Dose-limiting toxicities were leukopenia (27%) and thrombocytopenia (20%) attributable to CBDCA. Grade 2-3 anemia occurred in 32%. Only 4-7% of patients experienced severe fever, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms attributable to interferon administration. Of 41 patients evaluable for response, there were no complete responses and only 3 (7.3%) partial remissions. The overall median survival was 6 months. The combination of CBDCA and IFN-alpha-2a given in this dose and schedule does not appear to have superior activity compared to CBDCA alone in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandanas
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Einhorn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016190:Carboplatin