CISPLATIN, 5-FLUOROURACIL AND ALPHA-INTERFERON IN NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA - A TOXICITY STUDY

Data are presented on the general and hematological toxicity of a cisp latin (DDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) as sociation in patients with stage III B or IV non small cell hmg cancer (NSCLC). Twenty patients received DDP (100 mg/mq i.v., day 1) and 5-F U (750 mg/mq/day i.v. continuous infusion, days 1 to 4). In ten of the se patients IFN-alpha (3 MU s.c., three times weekly, days 1 to 21) wa s added. General and hematological toxicity was of a similar degree in both groups. Recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF ; 5 mu g/kg b.w. s.c. days 7 to 18) induced a sharp increase in periph eral blood GM-CFU level in patients receiving DDP and 5-FU but not in DDP, 5-FU, IFN-alpha treated patients. The results appear to indicate that IFN-alpha modulation of a DDP, 5-FU combination induces an accept able degree of toxicity.