AMBULATORY LOW-TOXICITY CHEMOTHERAPY IN NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CARCINOMABY CONTINUOUS 28-DAY INFUSION OF ALTERNATING CISPLATIN AND 5-FLUOROURACIL

Background : One regimen consisting of a continuous infusion or cispla tin and fluorouracil was designed to be minimally toxic, and suitable for application with radiotherapy in non-small-cell lune, carcinoma (N SCLC). Patients and methods: Forty-four NSCLC patients received daily 8 mg/m(2) of cisplatin on days 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, and 300 mg/m(2) of fluorouracil on days 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 (35-day courses). Re sults: Two patients experienced grade 3-4 toxicities. Eleven achieved objective responses. The median progression-free and observed survival was 22 and 39.5 weeks. Conclusions: The schedule management was fully ambulatory. Toxicity was negligible. The activity was moderate, but t he combination with radiotherapy is advisable due to the radioenhancin g properties of both of the drugs.