[Clinical characteristics and chemotherapy of advanced-stage bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung: report of 53 patients].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical feature and the value of chemotherapy for advanced stage bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) of the lung.


METHODS
The clinical data of 53 advanced stage BAC patients treated from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2004 was collected and reviewed. Most of the patients received more than 2 cycles of the combined chemotherapy with platinum-based regimen.


RESULTS
Of these 53 eligible patients in this series, 34 (64.2%) were women, 42 (79.2%) never smoked any cigarette, 29 (54.7%) originated from the right lung, and 12 patients (22.6%) showed bilateral multi-lobular or multi-central lesions or diffusive pulmonary involvement. The objective response rate was 17.0% (2 complete response, 7 partial response). 30 (56.6%) patients demonstrated stable disease and 14 (26.4%) patients showed progression of the disease. The median progression-free and overall survivals were 6.1 and 16.0 months, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 71.7%. Grade 3 or severer toxicities included neutropenia (34.0%), thrombocytopenia (15.1%), anemia (22.6%), nausea and vomiting (39.6%), alopecia (30.2%), constipation (17.0%) and peripheral neurotoxicity (13.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is likely to occur in woman, nonsmoker and the right lung, frequently with bilateral diffuse pulmonary involvement. The platinum-based combined chemotherapy regimen is modestly effective with tolerable toxicity. Compared with the historical data of lung adenocarcinoma of the same stage, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma has a longer overall survived.
Li
Yong
Y
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Zhang
Xiang-ru
XR
Sun
Yan
Y
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine