title: Comparison of effectiveness between chemotherapy alone versus chemo-radiotherapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Combined chemotherapy with radiotherapy has been claimed to be superior to radiotherapy alone in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study was designed to give chemo-radiotherapy with 300 cGy only on the day the cytotoxic drugs are administered. The aim was to exploit the cell cycle synergism between the two treatments. Forty-five patients of stage IIIA+B with inoperable NSCLC were randomized in two groups. Group A to be treated with chemotherapy only and group B to be treated with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. Drugs for group A were: cisplatinum 90 mg/m(2), vindesine 3 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 40 mg/m(2) once every 3 weeks for 8 courses. Group B: cisplatinum 60 mg/m(2), vindesine 3 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 30 mg/m(2) plus 300 cGy radiation, every two weeks for 8 cycles. Then, estimation of response was done. Toxicity was tolerable. In group A the response rate was 52%, in group B 90% (partial and complete). The difference was statistically significant. Additional radiotherapy up to 5,400 cGy was given in patients of group B while patients of group A had palliative radiation on recurrence. Survival rate was significantly longer for patients of group B.
authors: UNIV ATHENS,HIPPOKRAT HOSP,DEPT ONCOL,DIV MED 2,ATHENS,GREECE.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Stathopoulos
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Malamos
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Antonadou
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Throuvalas
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Thalassinos
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zoitopoulos