The importance of dose and dose intensity in lung cancer chemotherapy.

The concepts of dose-response and intensity-response are distinguished via analysis of chemotherapeutic regimens for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with methodology previously described. Using the data base for CAV (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine), and CAE (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide) chemotherapy, there was no consistent correlation between cyclophosphamide dose intensity and outcome; however, doxorubicin dose intensity in extensive stage disease was highly significantly associated with response rates for both regimens and median survival time for the CAE combination. Analysis of cyclophosphamide results for NSCLC do not support its use at any dose. While waiting for the development of new and more active drugs for lung cancer chemotherapy, the innovative investigation of the best drugs currently available provides the best chance for improved results.