Trial of vindesine, etoposide, and cisplatin in patients with previously treated, advanced-stage, non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.

Twenty-two patients with advanced-stage, non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma were treated in a pilot study with a combination of vindesine, etoposide, and cisplatin (VEDDP). All patients had been previously treated with a non-cisplatin-containing regimen and had documentation of progressive disease. Median duration of VEDDP therapy was 2.6 months. Only one patient had a minor response. Median survival from start of protocol therapy was 3.7 months; the overall survival from start of primary therapy was 13.5 months. The only significant variable possibly affecting survival was achieving a minor response or stable disease (5.0 months for minor response/stable disease from start of VEDDP vs 3.2 months for progressive disease, P = 0.016). Hematologic toxicity was moderate to severe in 14 patients and prevented completion of two full cycles in seven patients. We conclude that VEDDP is ineffective in inducing a response in patients with refractory, advanced-stage non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma in the dose and kinetic schema used in this pilot study.