Progress in chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer

We reviewed the results in the literature on chemotherapy with cisplatin and/or other new agents such as etoposide and vindesine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Associations of cisplatin with vindesine or etoposide have been overall superior to combinations of older cytostatic agents. These combinations result in an average of 30-40% objective response rate with 5% complete responses. High doses of cisplatin seem to be associated with optimal results. Vinblastine, vincristine, bleomycin, methyl-GAG and dihydrogalactitol appear to be promising in combination with cisplatin.