[Non-small-cell bronchial cancers: long-term survival after single drug chemotherapy with vinorelbine]

We studied a cohort of 120 patients with inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer treated with vinorelbin at the dose of 25-30 mg/m2/week in a single drug chemotherapy regimen. Surgery was contraindicated due to staging or to concomitant morbidity. Twenty patients survived 18 months or more. One survivor responded exceptionally, surviving 120 months. The mean dose intensity of Vinorelbine in long-term survivors was 21 mg/m2/week. Objective response was found at multivariate analysis to be a prognostic factor for survival beyond 18 months. Weight loss (< 5 kg) was an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with metastases.