title: Accelerated neoadjuvant chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
abstract: Thirty patients with marginally resectable stage IIIA or stage IIIB NSCLC were treated with cisplatin (80 mg/ m(2)/i.v./dl), ifosfamide (4,000 mg/m(2)/i.v./dl) and vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2)/i.v./dl) plus G-CSF 300 mu g/s.c. on days 7-12 every 14 days for three cycles before surgery. In 26 evaluable patients, the radiographically assessed response rate to chemotherapy was 77% (8% complete). Three septic deaths (10%) occurred in spite of G-CSF and 1 patient refused to continue after the first cycle. Thoracothomy was performed in 23 patients including 19 complete resections. At 15 months median follow-up (range 10-22+), 11/19 (57%) completely resected patients relapsed. The overall median time to treatment failure was 11 months (range 0-17). Actuarial survival probability at 12, 18 and 24 months are 56%, 43% and 36%, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of cisplatin, ifosfamide and vinorelbine in full doses at a 14 day interval (accelerated chemotherapy) was very effective in neoadjuvant NSCLC setting. Nevertheless, relevant toxicity was demonstrated with a 10% death rate probably due to the overlapping toxicity of chemotherapy cycles, suggesting the need for a more intense supportive care or longer interval between cycles.
authors.affiliation: INST ONCOL,DIV MED ONCOL,I-70126 BARI,ITALY. OSPED D COTUGNO MALATTIE INFETT,DEPT THORAC SURG,BARI,ITALY. RADIOTHERAPY UNIT CASA SOLLIEVO SOFFERENZA,S GIOVANNI ROTONDO FOGGI,ITALY. UNIV BARI,DEPT PATHOL,BARI,ITALY.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dirienzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cisternino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delena