cis-Platinum (DDP) and VP 16-213 (etoposide) combination chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A phase II clinical trial.

Forty-six patients with non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of cis-platinum, 90 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and VP 16-213, 100 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1, 3 and 5. The overall remission rate was 22%, with a median duration of 7 months. Squamous cell and large cell undifferentiated carcinomas responded in 27 and 22% of patients, and seven patients with adenocarcinoma did not respond to chemotherapy. Survival was 7 months for all patients, 11.5 months for responders (7-27+), 8.5 months for patients with stable disease (3-27+) and 5 months for progressive tumours (1-9). Prognosis was adversely influenced by a performance status of less than 80%, a weight loss of more than 10 kg during the last 3 months before start of treatment and a radiologically demonstrable 'major' atelectasis (collapse of at least one superior or inferior lobe of the lung). Only one out of 31 patients with one or more poor prognostic factors came into remission. In contrast, nine out of 15 patients without poor prognostic factors showed objective tumour regression (60% remission rate). Stage and age did not affect the results. Haemotologic and renal toxicity were mild, but poor subjective tolerance (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite) was prominent.