Abstract
69 patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer, previously untreated, received cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and etoposide 120 mg/m2 on days 4, 6, 8 at 4-week intervals. 66 patients were evaluable for tumor response and toxicity. Overall objective response was 25.7% (3 complete responses and 14 partial responses). Response rate in limited disease was 41% and in patients with performance score 0 it was 40%. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma responded in 31 and 24% of evaluable patients. Complete response was associated with a long duration of remission. Median survival time of responding patients was significantly superior to the median of nonresponding patients (p <0.001) but compared to stable disease no statistical significance was demonstrable (p >0.05). Hematological and renal toxicity of proposed regimen was generally mild. Nausea and vomiting were the most noxious side effects.