Multimodality therapy for stage IIIA (N2) lung cancer. An overview.
Disappointing results of surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in stage IIIA (N2) lung cancer have led to a number of phase II trials of induction (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy given prior to surgery. Preliminary results of 2 such studies indicate that mitomycin, vinca alkaloid, and platinum (MVP) given before surgical excision induces an overall response rate of 70% (9 complete responses and 71 partial responses in 112 patients). Of 80 patients who ultimately underwent surgery, complete resection was achieved in 62 (55%). Survival data reflect a median survival of 19.5 months for the entire cohort of 112 patients and 27 months for those who had complete resection. The 5-year-survival rate is expected to reach 15%. Randomized trials are now under way to establish whether this aggressive approach to therapy represents the most appropriate form of treatment for patients with stage IIIA (N2) lung cancer.
Ginsberg
R J
RJ
Cornell University Medical Center, New York.
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate