title: Induction chemotherapy in non small cell lung cancer stage IIIa-b and IV and second-line treatment.
abstract: This study investigates the treatment management and survival of inoperable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The objective was to treat all patients with induction chemotherapy and then to stratify them for surgery, radiotherapy, second-line chemotherapy or supportive treatment. Of the 359 patients enrolled in the study, 336 fulfilled the study criteria and were classified as follows: 90 stage IIIa, 135 stage IIIb and 111 stage IV. Histological types included 131 squamous cell, 123 adenocarcinomas, 53 undifferentiated non-small, 15 large cell, 3 adenosquamous, 3 bronchoalveolar and 8 unclassified. For all patients induction therapy involved Cisplatin (CDDP) combined chemotherapy and 84% of the patients were also treated with Vindesine and Epirubicin. The mean number of courses was 4 (minimum 2, maximum 11). The result of induction therapy was 49% complete and partial for at least 8 weeks; with minor response included, the total response rate was 67.6%. Fourteen patients (4.16%) achieved analytically complete response, 151 (45%) partial response and 62 (18.5%) minor response. The second-line treatment implemented was as follows: surgical excision, 22 patients (Group A); radiotherapy, 106 patients (Group B); chemotherapy, 91 patients (Group C) and supportive treatment, 117 patients (Group D). Median survival in months was 72 (range 5-120+), 12 (range 2-118), 15 (range 3-48) and 7 (range 3-120) for Groups A-D respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in survival in Group A patients (p < 0.001) but no difference was observed between Groups B and C. Group D patients had significantly lower survival than the other three groups. In conclusion, induction chemotherapy renders a reasonably high response rate in operable NSCLC patients and second-line radiotherapy treatment is not superior to second-line chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Hippokration Hospital, 2nd Medical Division, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Dafni
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Malamos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouvatseas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moschopoulos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine