COMPARISON OF 2 CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC REGIMENS - MITOMYCIN PLUS VINDESINE PLUS CISPLATIN (MVP) VS MITOMYCIN PLUS IFOSFAMIDE PLUS CISPLATIN (MIP)- IN ADVANCED NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

Background: A prospectively randomized trial was performed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of two chemotherapeutic regimens widely used in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: From January 1989 to March 1992, 196 patients with measurable disease were included in the trial. Ninety-three patients received mitomycin- vindesine-cisplatin (MVP) and 94 mitomycin-ifosfamide-cisplatin (MIP). Results: The objective response rate (complete plus partial remission s) was 28% (26/93 patients, 95% confidence interval 20%-40%) in the MV P arm and 30% (28/94 patients, 95% confidence interval 20.5%-40%) in t he MIP arm. The median survival was 8.5 and 9 months, respectively. Ne ither the response rates nor the median survivals were significantly d ifferent. Grade III-IV leukopenia was more frequent with MVP (13% vs. 2% of the courses, p<0.001), as well as grade I-II neurologic toxicity (30% vs. 6%, p<0.001). In contrast, grade I-II anemia and grade I-II urologic toxicity were more frequent with MIP (7% vs. 25%, p<0.001 and 1% vs. 11%, respectively). Conclusion: Given the low efficacy of both schemes in the treatment of advanced NSCLC, their use cannot be recom mended outside of clinical trials.