Original Article


VINDESINE WITH CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-EPIRUBICIN-CISPLATIN IN THE TREATMENT LOCALLY ADVANCED NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Yan-ping Hu, Yu-hua Ke, Xiao-yu Fu

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the addition of vindesine to a cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-cisplatin (CAP) regimen for treating the patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: From May 1994 to August 1998, 59 previously untreated patients with stage IIIa and IIIb non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled into this trial. Patients characteristics were the following: the median age was 52 years; the median performance status was 1; there were 19 stage IIIa and 40 stage IIIb; there were 47 adenocarcinoma, 10 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 large cell carcinoma. All patients were treated with vindesine (2 mg/m2, on day 1 and day 8), cyclophosphamide (0.6/m2, on day 1), epirubicin (40 mg/m2, on day 1) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2, on day 1) every 3 or 4 weeks.
Results: Four achieved a complete response (6.8%), 29 achieved a partial response (49.2%), 15 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. A clinical improvement was in 45 of 59 patients (76.3%). The most frequent major toxic effects were myelosuppressiom nausea and vomiting.
Conclusion: The vindesine with CAP regimen was active combination chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced NSCLC accompanied by the limited side effects.