title: Mitomycin C, vinblastine and carboplatin: effective outpatient chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC).
abstract: The majority of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) present with advanced disease and, as such, are treated with palliative intent. Platinum-based combination chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of these patients, with response rates to most regimens being in the range of 30%-40%. with symptom relief in up to 60%. One of the most commonly utilized combinations is mitomycin C, vinblastine and cisplatin (MVP). Owing to the hydration regimen, and to the age and performance status of many of these patients, in reality this combination often necessitates an overnight stay in hospital. A combination of drugs that could be administered as an outpatient would be beneficial to patients and could result in substantial economic benefits. Forty-three patients with Stage IlIb and IV NSCLC were treated with the MVCarbo regimen, in which the cisplatin in the MVP regimen was replaced with carboplatin. All treatment was administered on an outpatient basis. The overall objective response rate was 30%; the symptomatic response rate was 60%, which was exactly equivalent to the response rate seen in a comparable group of patients treated with MVP in a trial on duration of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital. There was no difference in progression-free or overall survival between patients treated with the two regimens. The MVCarbo regimen resulted in response rates and survival rates equivalent to those seen with standard MVP and, as such, provides an acceptable outpatient alternative to this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin