A PHASE-II STUDY OF CARBOPLATIN-CISPLATIN-ETOPOSIDE COMBINATION CHEMOTHERAPY IN ADVANCED NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

It is reported that the combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and carboplati n (CBDCA) is synergistic in vitro. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of the two platinum compoun ds in combination with etoposide in the treatment of non-small-cell lu ng cancer (NSLC). Forty patients were registered. Based on the results of a phase I study, patients were treated with CDDP (80 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1), CBDCA (280 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1), and etoposide (80 mg/m(2 ) i.v. on days 1-3). Of the 40 patients, 30 were men and 10 women. His tology revealed adenocarcinoma (AC) (n = 20), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 18), and large cell carcinoma (LCC) (n = 2). Staging: IIIA (n = 3); IIIB (n = 17); and IV (n = 20). A 32.5% overall response rate [13 of 40; 95% confidence interval (CI) 18-47%] was achieved. The res ponse rates in patients with SCC and AC were 55.6 and 10.0% (p < 0.005 ), respectively. The median duration of response was 47.1 weeks and th e overall median survival time was 57.1 weeks. Leukopenia and thromboc ytopenia-World Health Organization (WHO) grade IV-occurred in nine and 11 patients, respectively. Nonhematological toxicities were mainly na usea, vomiting, and alopecia. In conclusion, further investigations of this regimen are warranted in the treatment of NSLC.