Intensive etoposide and carboplatin chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. A phase II trial of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B

Carboplatin plus vinorelbine with concomitant radiation therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I study

This phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin when administered in combination with a fixed dose of vinorelbine and concomitant radiation therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Chemotherapy was administered on days 1 and 8 of two 21 day cycles. It consisted of vinorelbine at 15 mg/m(2) and carboplatin administered at an initial area under the curve (AUC) of 1.5, and increased by an AUC of 0.5 per dose level to a maximum AUC of 3, corresponding with an AUC of 6 per cycle of chemotherapy. Radiation was administered in daily fractions of 200 cGy over 5-7 weeks. We treated 36 patients, of whom 27 had stage II or III disease, and nine had stage IV disease but required thoracic radiation for palliation. Toxicities included neutropenia (three with Grade 4) and esophagitis (seven with Grade 3 and one with Grade 4). Four patients had radiation pneumonitis 4-7 months after completing therapy, three of whom died. The recommended phase II dose of carboplatin is an AUC of 3 on 2 consecutive weeks. Of 33 patients evaluable for response within the radiation field, 17 (52%) had complete or partial response, and 13 had stable disease. Of seven patients evaluable with distant metastatic disease, three had a complete or partial response, and two had stable disease. The median survival for the entire group and for patients with stage II/III disease was 13.5 months. We conclude that the combination of carboplatin, vinorelbine, and radiotherapy is feasible at these doses. It may be a useful alternative for patients not able to tolerate cisplatin-based therapy.

Prolonged oral versus high-dose intravenous etoposide in combination with carboplatin for stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a randomized trial

In order to investigate whether dose-intensive intravenous (i.v.) etoposide offers an advantage over prolonged oral administration of etoposide when combined with carboplatin (CBDCA), between January, 1991 and December, 1994, 171 patients with metastatic (stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive CBDCA, 400 mg/m2, day 1 with either oral etoposide, 50 mg/m2, days 1-21 (group I) or i.v. etoposide, 200 mg/m2, days 1-3 (group II), every 4 weeks for up to six cycles or until tumour progression. Of the patients 168 were fully assessable for response, survival and toxicity. There were three (4%) CR and 16 (19%) PR in group 1, and the overall response rate was 23%. There were four (5%) CR and 12 (14%) PR in group II, and the overall response rate was 19% (P = 0.82). The median survival time (MST) in group I was 8 months, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 35 and 9.5%, respectively, while the corresponding figures for group II were 7 months, and 31 and 7.1%, respectively (P = 0.40). Both haematological and non-haematological toxicity was significantly more frequent in group II with six (7%) patients in that group dying of treatment-related infection. Intensive i.v. etoposide combined with CBDCA was similar in efficacy to but more toxic than prolonged oral etoposide plus carboplatin and we do not recommend it for further investigation.

Clinical studies in non-small cell lung cancer: the CALGB experience

Since 1984, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) has focused its clinical research in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on investigations of new agents and combinations. Currently, efforts are aimed at identifying non-cisplatin-based combinations with an increased therapeutic index. In stage III disease multimodality therapies have been pursued. Dillman et al. reported a study comparing standard radiotherapy versus induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. The chemotherapy-treated patients were found to benefit with a 4-month increase in median survival time compared with patients receiving radiotherapy alone (13.8 vs. 9.7 months) and an increased 3-year survival rate of 23% versus 11%. This was the first randomized cooperative group study demonstrating a survival advantage resulting from the use of induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced NSCLC. In a subsequent study, the administration of additional "posterior" chemotherapy was not found to be feasible because of early disease progression and toxicity, while the administration of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy was feasible; therefore, the latter approach was studied further in a randomized phase III setting. This study compared a standard of two cycles of cisplatin and vinblastine followed by radiotherapy with an experimental arm of cisplatin and vinblastine followed by radiotherapy and concomitant carboplatin. Accrual to this study has been completed and results are expected in the near future. In resectable stage III disease, studies have focused on the optimal sequencing of multimodality therapy. A randomized study comparing standard regional therapy with radiotherapy and surgery versus a previously piloted approach combining chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy was closed prematurely due to poor accrual. The next generation of studies in stage III NSCLC will focus on the integration of new chemotherapy agents into the treatment armamentarium for NSCLC. A randomized phase II study investigating paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine in combination with cisplatin in the induction setting and as concomitant chemoradiotherapy has recently been activated.

Phase I study of a carboplatin-cisplatin-etoposide combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Cisplatin (CDDP)-containing chemotherapy has become the mainstay of clinical trials in unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the role of chemotherapy in the routine management of NSCLC remains controversial. We conducted a phase I study with the combination carboplatin (CBDCA), CDDP, and etoposide (Etop) in unresectable NSCLC. CBDCA, at a starting dose of 80 mg/m2, on day 1, was combined with a fixed dose of CDDP (80 mg/m2, day 1) and Etop (80 mg/m2, days 1-3). Escalation was performed after four patients entered at each dose level. If no World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 toxicity developed after the first cycle in more than half of the patients or WHO grade 3/4 toxicity in more than two thirds, the dose was escalated. The maximum tolerated dose was established at 300 mg/m2 for CBDCA. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were the dose-limiting toxicities. No grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicities were seen. The recommended dose of CBDCA to be combined with CDDP (80 mg/m2, day 1) and Etop (80 mg/m2, days 1-3) is 280 mg/m2. This trial suggests that our combination chemotherapy may be effective in patients with advanced NSCLC. A multicenter phase II study based on these findings is now under way.