High-dose cisplatin with fluid and mannitol-induced diuresis in advanced lung cancer: a phase II clinical trial of the EORTC Lung Cancer Working Party (Belgium).

A phase II clinical trial of high-dose cisplatin (120 mg/m2 iv every 3 weeks), with fluid and mannitol-induced diuresis, was conducted in 81 patients with advanced lung cancer. Partial remissions were documented in 26% of 75 evaluable cases for a median duration of 3.5 months. Adenocarcinoma and small cell anaplastic carcinoma were more responsive than epidermoid carcinoma, with partial response rates of 35%, 30%, and 18%, respectively. The median survival of responders (8.5 months) was significantly longer than the survival of nonresponders (4 months) (P less than 0.02). Myelosuppression was mild. Renal toxicity with peak serum creatinine greater than 2.5 mg/100 ml occurred in eight patients, with one death occurring due to toxicity. Cisplatin is an active drug in advanced lung cancer.