Cisplatin and Vindesine Combination Chemotherapy for Advanced Carcinoma of the Lung: A Randomized Trial Investigating Two Dosage Schedules

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-95-4-414

Cisplatin and Vindesine Combination Chemotherapy for Advanced Carcinoma of the Lung: A Randomized Trial Investigating Two Dosage Schedules

New York, New York

Abstract

Eighty-five patients with advanced squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the lung were randomly assigned to receive vindesine with either high dose (120 mg/m² of body surface area) or low dose (60 mg/m²) cisplatin. All patients had measurable disease and had not previously received chemotherapy. The response rate was similar with both treatments (43% complete and partial remission rate), but the high dose cisplatin regimen was superior to the low dose in median duration of response (12 versus 5.5 months; p = 0.05) and in median survival for responding patients (21.7 versus 10 months; p = 0.02). Myelosuppression was generally not a treatment problem; peripheral neuropathy and moderate azotemia were the major dose-limiting toxicities. With improved survival and response rates over those reported for conventional regimens, this combination of new agents supports the approach of new drug investigation in patients with lung cancer and the importance of the incorporation of active new agents into initial chemotherapy regimens.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Developmental Chemotherapy and Solid Tumor Services, Department of Medicine, and the Thoracic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University Medical College; New York, New York.
Grant support: in part by contract NO-1CM57043 and grant CA-05826, National Institutes of Health. Drs. Gralla and Casper are recipients of the American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Fellowship Awards, and Dr. Kelsen is the recipient of a Landrum/Karnofsky Scholarship.
Published in part in abstract form in Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1979:20;337; and in: HANSEN HH, DOMBERNOWSKY P, eds. Abstracts of the Second World Conference on Lung Cancer. Amsterdam: Exerpta Medica; 1980:229.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Richard J. Gralla, M.D.; Developmental Chemotherapy Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue; New York, NY 10021.