[Combination chemotherapy with cis-platinum, vinblastine and adriamycin for non-small cell lung cancer]

A combination chemotherapy consisting of cis-platinum (CDDP), vinblastine (VLB) and adriamycin (ADM) was given to fourteen patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment consisted of CDDP 60 mg/m2 i.v., divided over two days (on days 1 and 2) or five days (on days 1-5), and VLB 3.5 mg/m2 and ADM 40 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and repeated every four weeks. Of fourteen evaluable patients, there were two with partial responses (14%), eleven with no change and one with progressive disease. The durations of the partial responses were 3 and 4 months, respectively. The median time to disease progression in the patients with partial response plus no change was 6 months. The median survival time of all treated patients was 13.5 months. Leukopenia of less than 2,000/mm3 was seen in 36% and decreased hemoglobin of more than 1 g/dl in 50%. Mild transient renal dysfunction was observed in 7%, cumulative renal dysfunction in 29%, alopecia in 100%, nausea and vomiting in 93% and peripheral neuropathy in 43%. We conclude that a combination chemotherapy with CDDP, VLB and ADM has moderate activity against non-small cell lung cancer.