Neoadjuvant MPV chemotherapy (Mitomycin, Cisplatin, Vinblastine) in stage IIIa non-small cell lung cancer. Long term results and pattern of relapse

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Surgery is the treatm ent of choice in stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However . between 30 and 40% of the patients will have locally advanced disease (St age III) at the time of diagnosis. Results of surgical treatment of stage I II NSCLC are limited, especially in case of mediastinal lymph-node involvem ent. A phase II prospective trial was performed at our department to evalua te a multimodality approach with neoadjuvant MPV (mitomycin c, vinblastine and cisplatin) chemotherapy, surgery and postoperative radiotherapy in stag e IIIa NSCLC in terms of long-term survival and recurrence pattern. From No vember 1990 to June 1997, 57 patients with stage IIIa NSCLC entered the tri al. A major response to the treatment was observed in 46 patients (81%). Th e overall radical resection rate of 60%. No postoperative mortality was obs erved. The overall median survival is 19 months, 37 month in patients that underwent complete resection.