Heparinized chemotherapy in the treatment of disseminated lung cancer

Fourteen patients with inoperable or metastatic carcinoma of the lung were entered in this study. All of them received one or more courses of multiple chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and vincristine) with prior and concurrent heparin anticoagulation. No tumour regression was noted in any patient although one patient is alive and well at two years. Five patients developed sudden increase in pleural effusion whilst on heparin therapy and in four of these patients the effusion was a significant factor in their death.