PHASE-II STUDY OF FOTEMUSTINE IN UNTREATED INOPERABLE NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

A total of 43 patients with advanced, previously untreated non-small-c ell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with a novel nitrosourea, fotemus tine, given at 100 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8. Maintenance treatment cons isted of a single injection of 100 mg/m(2) given every 21 days. 37 pat ients were evaluable for respone. Of these, 5 patients had a partial r esponse (13.5%; 95% confidence interval, 6%-28%). Toxicity comprised m ainly anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities were mild. This p hase II study confirms that fotemustine is a moderately active and wel l-tolerated drug in NSCLC.