A phase II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin epirubicin and VP-16 for stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
The survival rate for surgically resected stage III N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is less than 10%.


METHODS
A phase II study of cisplatin, epirubicin, and VP-16 (PEV) was undertaken in an attempt to improve the curative potential of surgery. Forty-one patients with stage III N2 NSCLC received 3 cycles of pEV. Patients with either complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) underwent surgery and 3 additional courses of PEV.


RESULTS
The response rate in the whole patient population was 58%. Eighteen patients were resected; twelve resections were complete and 6 were incomplete. Toxicity was mild and consisted mainly of myelosuppression. Twenty-six patients have died, and the median survival of all 41 patients was 18.1 months, with a 3-year survival of 23%. The median survival for those patients who were resected was 27 months with a 3-year survival of 42%.


CONCLUSIONS
PEV is an effective low toxic drug combination for limited NSCLC.
Iacobelli
S
S
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, University G.D'Annunzio Medical School, Chieti, Italy.
Irtelli
L
L
Sacco
R
R
Martino
M
M
Mascitelli
E
E
Basilico
L
L
Scognamiglio
M
M
Natoli
C
C
Fusco
O
O
Tinari
N
N
Beltrami
V
V
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin