Chemotherapy for metastatic non-small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma: EST 2575, generation V--a randomized comparison of four cisplatin-containing regimens.

Abstract

Between Dec. 1979 and Oct. 1981, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) compared 4 cisplatin-containing regimens in the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma (NSCBC). CBP (cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, cisplatin) and AFP (doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin) had shown activity in generation II of this study (EST 2575). These were compared to MVP (mitomycin C, vinblastine, cisplatin) and CAP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin) which were reported efficacious in single institution studies. A total of 479 previously untreated patients with metastatic NSCBC (ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2) were entered, and of these, 432 (90%) were evaluable. Although MVP resulted in a higher response rate (5 complete responses [CR], 22 partial responses [PR], 26% overall) than CBP (4 CR, 18 PR, 20% overall), AFP (0 CR, 18 PR, 17% overall), or CAP (1 CR, 23 PR, 23% overall), the difference was not significant. Survival by treatment did not differ significantly. There were 45 life-threatening and 6 lethal complications of therapy. Although each of the above regimens offers a modest chance of inducing > 50% tumor shrinkage (17-26%, 21% overall) the effect that these responses have on overall median survival (21.6-23.7 wk, 22.9 wk overall) is unclear.