title: Neoadjuvant cisplatin and etoposide for stage IIIA (clinical N2) non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: In an attempt to improve the curative potential of surgery, 46 patients with unresectable Stage IIIA (Clinical N2) non-small cell lung cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. After 2 or 3 cycles, 45 patients were evaluable for response; the overall response rate was 82% (37/45) with 3 complete and 34 partial responses. Toxicity was primarily hematologic. Surgical exploration was performed on 35 patients, but resection was possible in only 33 (73%). Of these, 28 resections were complete (62%). Four patients (2CR, 2PR; 9%) had no tumor in biopsy specimen. Three deaths were surgery-related. Median survival of the entire 46 patients was 24.5 months with a 2-year survival of 53%. Cisplatin and etoposide is an effective chemotherapeutic regimen for regionally advanced non-small cell lung cancer; the resection and survival rates justify further trials to compare this approach to other treatment modalities.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Policlinico Monteluce, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darwish
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crinò
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maranzano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Checcaglini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiaschini
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mercati
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Penza
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vitali
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin