Treatment of recurrent small cell lung carcinoma with vindesine and cisplatin

Thirty-two males with recurrent small cell lung cancer after previous remission were treated with vindesine (3-4 mg/m2) plus cisplatin (60-100 mg/m2). Six patients (19%) responded to this therapy with two complete (CR) and four partial remissions. Minor responses were seen in another ten patients (32%). In patients with CR survival from start of treatment lasted 61 and 38 weeks; in patients who did not achieve CR median survival was 12 weeks. Nausea and vomiting were the predominant side effects, while only mild to moderate myelosuppression was noted. The vindesine and cisplatin regimen demonstrated significant activity against heavily pretreated small cell lung cancer, although chemotherapeutic response was poor in regions of prior irradiation.