[Adriamycin, cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer]

Nineteen patients with non-small cell lung cancer (eight patients with adenocarcinoma, nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma, one patient with large cell carcinoma and one patient with sarcoma) who had not received previous chemotherapy were treated with a combination of adriamycin (30 mg/m2, i.v., on day 1), cisplatin (80 mg/m2, i.v., on day 1) and etoposide (70 mg/m2, i.v., on day 1-5). This chemotherapy regimen was repeated as long as possible for patients in whom PR was induced. Among all patients, CR was induced in none and 6 showed a PR (response rate 32%). However, 4 (56%) squamous cell carcinoma patients also showed PR. The median response duration in 6 PR patients was 28 weeks, and the median survival time in all patients was also 28 weeks. Mild to severe hematologic toxicities were induced and one patient died during myelosuppression. However almost all cases were reversible. Other toxicities included alopecia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, peripheral neuropathy and myocardial infarction which were reversible and manageable. The APVp therapy may be a valuable regimen for non-small cell lung cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma.