MITOMYCIN, IFOSFAMIDE, AND CISPLATIN IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

Mitomycin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin have demonstrated the best single -agent activity thus far in patients with non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC), the most common malignant disease in the western world. For th is reason, we initiated a phase II study, giving these three agents in combination (designated MIC) to 74 patients with inoperable NSCLC. Si xty-six patients were evaluable for response, of whom 30 (45%) demonst rated a partial response and 7 (11%) a complete response. These result s, along with those obtained in two other phase II trials of MIC in NS CLC, prompted us to begin a large-scale, multicenter, phase III study of MIC in patients with inoperable limited-stage NSCLC. In this ongoin g study, patients have been randomized to receive treatment with MIC a nd radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. We hope to resolve the issue of whether a survival advantage is conferred on NSCLC patients treated w ith radiotherapy in combination with this promising chemotherapeutic r egimen.