Platinum-based combination chemotherapy in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

A series of 35 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of cis-diamminedichloro platinum (II), Adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and vincristine. The objective response rate was 37.1% and the overall median survival 52.8 weeks. Notable toxicity was infrequent and reversible. Although the investigators have obtained higher response rates with other platinum-based combination chemotherapies, the present regimen appears superior in that other regimens fail to yield superior survival times while consistently inducing more severe toxicity.