The Role of Combination Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin and Cisplatin (Cap) Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Thirty-one patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), stage III (T3 N2 M 0-1), were treated with cyclophosphamide (400 mg/m2), adriamycin (40 mg/m2) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) (CAP) every 4 weeks for 8 cycles. Twenty-six patients were evaluable for response. Patients characteristics included: median age, 63 years; median performance status, 70% (range 60% -100%). One hundred and fifty-five cycles of chemotherapy were administered with a median of 5. There were 9 partial responses and 3 complete remissions, for an overall response rate of 46%. The median survival duration was 9 months, and 29% survived 1 year. CAP combination chemotherapy was well tolerated without nephrotoxicity, which can be imputed to the strong saline hydration given. Seventy percent of the patients did not experience emesis due to the antiemetic regimen used.

Randomized trial for the control of acute vomiting in cisplatin-treated patients: high-dose metoclopramide with dexamethasone and lorazepam as adjuncts versus high-dose alizapride plus dexamethasone and lorazepam. Study of the incidence of delayed emesis

This study investigated the antiemetic activity of two different acute antiemesis regimens in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Seventy-four patients were treated with high-dose metoclopramide, dexamethasone and lorazepam (MDL) and 71 patients received high-dose alizapride, dexamethasone and lorazepam (ADL). Complete protection from vomiting was 50% in MDL-treated patients as compared with 30% in the ADL arm (p = 0.04). Incidence of delayed emesis was assessed in the first 82 patients accrued for the 120 h postcisplatin, being 69 and 60% in MDL and ADL, respectively.

Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide combination as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer: a meta-analytic review

Twenty-three patients with marginally resectable and unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (stages IIIA and IIIB) were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All patients received three cycles of preoperative chemotherapy with two alkylating agents, cyclophosphamide 2.5 g/m2 intravenously (i.v.) and ifosfamide 3.5 g/m2 i.v., mesna 12 g/m2 was given additionally to prevent drug hematuria. Six of 23 patients (26%) had partial response. Of the seven patients who underwent thoracotomy, two were completely resected, but with macroscopic residual disease. Mean time to progression for the whole group was 7 months. Fifteen patients had progression of disease, with local metastases only in six, and distant metastases in eight. After administering 52 chemotherapy cycles, cyclophosphamide-ifosfamide doses were cut down, as eight of 16 patients required hospitalization for fever during neutropenia nadirs. This two-alkylating (non-cisplatin) regimen, unlike cisplatin-based regimens, was ineffective, and further trials are not recommended.

A randomized study of two vindesine plus cisplatin-containing regimens with the addition of mitomycin C or ifosfamide in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The current trial was carried out to assess the survival enhancement achieved, if any, by adding ifosfamide to vindesine and cisplatin (IVP) in contrast to mitomycin plus vindesine and cisplatin (MVP). Between June 1986 and September 1988, 110 patients were randomly allocated to receive either ifosfamide (3 g/m2 plus 3 g/m2 of mesna) or mitomycin 8 mg/m2, on days 1, 29, and 71 only. In both arms vindesine was given 3 mg/m2 weekly X 5 then every 2 weeks. In the MVP arm, 120 mg/m2 of cisplatin was administered on days 1 and 29 and then every 6 weeks, whereas in the IVP arm 100 mg/m2 of cisplatin was given on the same time schedule. One hundred three patients were evaluable for response and toxicity and 56% of patients had Mountain's Stage IV disease. The response rate was 26% (14/53 patients) in the MVP arm (95% confidence interval, 14%-39%) and 20% (ten of 50 patients) in the IVP arm (95% confidence interval, 10%-34%). Neither the response rate nor the median survival times were significantly different, although more nephrotoxicity was produced in the MVP arm, grade 1+ in 43% versus 26% in IVP arm (P = 0.04). Results obtained from this study fail to demonstrate that mitomycin or ifosfamide have a synergistic effect on the efficacy of the vindesine/cisplatin combination.

[Carcinoma of unknown origin. Diagnostic study of 48 cases and its clinical yield]

Forty-eight patients fulfilling the criteria for carcinoma of unknown origin (CUO) between April 1983 and December 1987 were retrospectively analyzed. Mean age was 62 (33-83). Twenty-seven were males (56%) and 21 females (44%). The most common site of metastasis was the bone (35%), followed by the liver (19%) and lymph nodes (19%). 58% of cases were adenocarcinomas. Overall 274 studies for the detection of the primary tumor were carried out, the diagnosis being achieved in 10 cases (3.65%) which corresponded to lung neoplasms (5 cases), prostatic adenocarcinoma with negative markers (2 cases), bile duct neoplasms (2 cases) and pancreatic carcinoma (1 case). In our series, the most useful studies were computed tomography (CT) and fibrobronchoscopy. The necropsy, carried out in 11 patients, yielded 8 additional diagnoses: pulmonary neoplasm (one case), gastric adenocarcinoma (2 cases), malignant melanoma (2 cases), small intestine neoplasm (one case), parotid cancer (one case) and hepatocarcinoma (one case). Thirty-five patients were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation; 12 objective responses (3 complete and 9 partial) were achieved, with a median duration of the response of 10 months (range 0.2-78 +). In view of the low diagnostic yield of the studies in patients with CUO we feel that the diagnostic study may be limited to CT scan with evaluation of the possible usefulness of bronchoscopy in individual patients. Regarding therapy, it is to be noted that there was a tendency for a longer survival in patients who responded.

Oral idarubicin in measurable gastric cancer

Seventeen patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, previously untreated with chemotherapy, have been included in a Phase II study with idarubicin (IDA), 15 mg/m2/day, orally, for three consecutive days every 3 weeks. All cases had measurable disease. Sixteen of 17 patients are evaluable for response. Complete or partial responses were not observed. Two patients had partial response less than 50%, one patient no change, and the remaining 13 patients disease progression. The median leukocytes and platelets nadir was 3600 and 186,000/mm3, respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicity was mild. The median total cumulative dose of IDA was 90 mg/m2 (range 45-180 mg/m2). Clinical cardiac toxicity was not observed. IDA, at the dose and by the route used, is not active in gastric cancer.

Antiemetic efficacy of escalating doses of alizapride against chemotherapy-induced emesis

The antiemetic effect of a new benzamide, alizapride, was investigated with escalating doses through four levels starting at 5 mg/kg/cycle up to 20 mg/kg/cycle. 39 patients were accrued who received cancer chemotherapy which included the following drugs in various combinations: cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, fluorouracil, carboplatin and etoposide (VP-16). Complete control of emesis was achieved in a third of the 39 patients. There was no statistically significant difference among the dose levels with regard to the patient's assessment of the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting. Alizapride was well tolerated at all dose levels tested with minimal toxicity. Mild sedation was reported in 60% of the patients. Neither extrapyramidal reactions nor hypotensive side effects were observed. Thus the therapeutic yield of alizapride could be further studied concerning the optimal dose and schedule as well as its use in combination with other antiemetic drugs.

Quality of life during chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients

To evaluate the usefulness of chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer, objective response, length of remission and survival have been considered the main yardsticks. Subjective improvement and gain in Karnofsky performance status have attracted very little attention. Thirty-one patients with stages III and IV underwent combination chemotherapy with high-dose cisplatin, and were assessed with categorical scales and 100 mm visual analogue scales used by patients themselves to report on several symptoms of their illness. After chemotherapy 17 of 19 patients (89%) gained weight; 20 presented anorexia, 10 of those (50%) improved; 15 had pain, 7 of those (47%) were alleviated; cough was reported in 22, in 10 (45%) it was ameliorated; hemoptysis disappeared in 10 of 11 patients (91%); of the 9 patients who had dyspnea, 7 improved (78%); and astenia was attenuated in 8 of 16 patients (50%). Quality of life was reported improved in 75% of those patients who had considered themselves seriously affected prior to the treatment. When compared with Karnofsky performance status, no relationship was found (r = 0.31). It is concluded that, apart from the objective response achieved, a significant proportion of patients did benefit from treatment as demonstrated by a marked relief of symptoms.

A randomized study comparing platinum, doxorubicin, and VP-16 with platinum, 4'-epidoxorubicin, and VP-16 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Forty-four previously untreated patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were treated in a randomized trial comparing platinum (60 mg/m2), doxorubicin (40 mg/m2), and VP-16 (150 mg/m2) (PAV) with platinum (60 mg/m2), 4'-epidoxorubicin (50 mg/m2), and VP-16 (150 mg/m2) (PEV). The overall response rate was 10%. Major response rates were quite similar for the 21 patients treated with PAV (5%) and the 23 patients treated with PEV (18%) (p = 0.2). Of the 23 patients with assigned to PEV, two (9%) achieved complete responses for a median duration of 20 weeks and 44+ weeks. There was no significant difference (p = 0.75) in the median survival among patients treated with PAV (24 weeks) and those treated with PEV (20 weeks). Toxicity was generally mild and tolerable. The lack of response found in both arms of treatment caused the study to be terminated early. Some benefit could be appreciated in patients with limited disease and good Karnofsky performance status.