Phase II evaluation of fractionated low and single high dose cisplatin in various tumors

Seventy-three evaluable patients with advanced measurable solid tumors were given cisdichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (DDP) at a dose of 20 mg/M2 IV for 1-5 days every 3 weeks, and 19 patients who failed on this low dose DDP protocol received a single high dose of 100 mg/M2 IV once every 3 weeks. Forty-six patients had received prior chemotherapy, and 29 patients were untreated. Results included four complete responses (5.5%) in malignant melanoma, spindle-cell sarcoma, adrenal carcinoma, and bladder carcinoma lasting 2 to 4 months. In 21 patients (28.8%), partial responses were achieved. Twenty-two patients (30.1%) showed stable disease and 26 (35.6%) had tumor progression. A response rate of 25% (4/16 patients) was found for malignant melanoma, 45.5% (5/11) for nonsmall-cell lung cancer, and 35.3% (6/17) for sarcomas of various types. One patient with teratocarcinoma, who relapsed on low-dose DDP, had another partial remission for 4 months after high-dose therapy. Toxicity was most commonly seen with gastrointestinal side effects and myelosuppression. Cumulative nephrotoxicity was prevented by prehydration and/or treatment with furosemide or mannitol.