Esophageal complications from combined chemoradiotherapy (cyclophosphamide + Adriamycin + cisplatin + XRT) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Esophageal complications from combined chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were analyzed in 55 patients with limited non-small cell lung cancer. CCRT consisted of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cisplatin: CAP) and chest irradiation (5000 rad in 25 fractions/5 weeks). Forty-five patients received two courses of CAP, followed by five weekly courses of low dose CAP and irradiation followed by maintenance courses of CAP (Group 1). Ten patients received concomitant CCRT from the onset of treatment (Group 2). Esophagitis occurred in 80% of all patients. Severe esophagitis occurred in 27% of patients of Group 1 and 40% of patients of Group 2. Esophageal stricture or fistula developed in 1 of 45 (2%) patients in Group 1, and 3 of 10 (30%) patients in Group 2 (p less than 0.025). Weekly low-dose chemotherapy administered concomitantly with chest irradiation (R) at the onset of treatment significantly increases esophageal complications. A review of the literature suggests that CCRT may be used safely with split courses of R. The duration between onset of chemotherapy either before or after R should be greater than one week.     

Radiation therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of residual or inoperable carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid or pelvic recurrence following colorectal surgery. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study (76-16)

Between 1976 and 1981, 147 patients with residual, inoperable, or locally recurrent carcinoma of the rectum were randomized to receive either radiation (XRT) alone or XRT plus chemotherapy (concomitant 5-FU during XRT and maintenance 5-FU + MeCCNU). An initial field received 4,500-5,100 rad in 5-6 weeks, with a boost field dose to a maximum of 7000 rad/8 weeks (maximum 6,000 rad/7 weeks with chemotherapy), dependent on findings of special small bowel films. One hundred twenty-nine patients were evaluable (65 XRT, 64 XRT + chemo). There were no statistically significant differences between treatments with respect to overall survival, complete remission rate, time to disease progression, local failure rate, or radiation dose distribution. Median survival was 17 months for XRT, 18 months for XRT + chemo; the 2-year survival probability was 36% for XRT, 44% for XRT + chemo. Initial performance status was a significant prognostic factor for both survival and time to disease progression. A trend was observed favoring the combination treatment for patients with residual disease. Treatment complications were greater for the combined modality arm than for radiation alone. Twenty-seven patients (22%) were alive at last data analysis, with no evidence of disease (NED) from 2-51 months (30 months median). Patients with resection of gross disease before or after irradiation had a much better result than those with gross residual or without any resection, but the relative influence of patient selection versus impact of surgery remains unclear.     

Randomized trial of thoracic irradiation plus combination chemotherapy for unresectable adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma of the lung.

Sixty-eight evaluable patients with unresectable adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma of the lung were treated on a prospective randomized trial comparing thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) plus combination chemotherapy with either cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and cis-platinum (CAP) or cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (same dosages) and DTIC (CAD), 34 on each arm. Patients treated with TRT plus CAP had a better overall regression rate (59% vs 47%) and a statistically significant superiority in time to disease progression (147 days vs 303 days) and survival (217 days vs 504 days).     

Treatment of advanced and recurrent ovarian carcinoma with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin

Forty-seven patients with primary advanced (N = 37) or recurrent ovarian carcinoma (N = 10) completed a 12-month course of CAP chemotherapy or developed progressive disease while on therapy and were evaluated. All patients were treated between August 1, 1977 and August 1, 1982. Cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) 40 mg/m2, and cisplatin 60 mg/m2, were administered every 4 weeks intravenously. After 8 courses the cisplatin was stopped. The patients then received 500 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide and 50 mg/m2 of Adriamycin. At the cumulative dose of 450 mg/m2, the Adriamycin was stopped and cyclophosphamide was given at 1 g/m2 alone until the patient had received a total of 12-13 courses from the initiation of the chemotherapy protocol. The cardiac, renal, and hematopoetic toxicity of the regimen was mild to moderate. The median survival of the entire study population was 32 months. The median survival of the patients with primary disease was 36 months. The median survival of patients with recurrent disease was 20 months. There was a significant difference in median survival based on size of the largest lesion prior to initiation of chemotherapy. There was no difference in median survival based on tumor grade or comparing Stage III to Stage IV tumors. The most important aspects of the study appeared to be the length of the median survival of the patients, the fact that all patients who were complete responders and who were considered to have no evidence of disease, have been documented by second look, and the success of secondary treatment after second-look procedures revealed persistent tumor. The authors additionally report the use of weight change as an indicator of tumor response, and the importance of the pelvic examination complimented by fine-needle aspiration in following the course of these patients.     

Improved overall survival among responders to preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer

The aim of this study was to determine if the response to preoperative radiation and chemotherapy with continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was predictive for survival among patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Preoperative chemoradiation (CTX/XRT) that delivered 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks with continuous infusion 5-FU (300 mg/m2/day) was given to 117 patients. The pretreatment stage distribution, as determined by endorectal ultrasound (u), included uT2N0 in 2%, uT3N0 in 47%, uT3N1 in 49%, and uT4N0 in 2% of cases; endorectal ultrasound was not performed in 13% of cases (15 patients). Approximately 6 weeks after completion of CTX/XRT, surgery was performed. Adjuvant chemotherapy, consisting of 400 to 425 mg/m2 of 5-FU plus 20 mg/m2 leucovorin for 5 days, was administered every 28 days for 4 to 6 cycles after surgical resection. Among the 74 patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, the preoperative stage of disease was 31 with T3N0 and 43 T3N1. Median follow-up was 46 months (range 2 to 89 months). The pathologic tumor stages were Tis-2N0 in 26%, T2N1 in 5%, T3N0 in 21%, T3N1 in 15%, T4N0 in 5%, and T4N1 in 1%; a complete response (CR) to preoperative CTX/XRT was pathologically confirmed in 32 (27%) of patients. Tumor down-staging occurred in 72 (62%) cases. A sphincter-saving procedure (SP) was possible in 59% of patients. The median DFS and overall survival rates for responders were 46 months and 47 months, respectively; for non-responders these outcome measures were 38 months and 41 months, respectively. Log-rank analysis showed that the distant metastatic-free survival rates improved with any response to CTX/XRT (p < 0.00001), CR to CTX/XRT (p < 0.009) and SP (p < 0.012). Likewise, these parameters also significantly influenced DFS rates (CTX/XRT p < 0.00001; CR p < 0.006; and SP p < 0.008). Control of pelvic disease was influenced by clinical size (p < 0.002) and SP (p < 0.016) on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis only clinical size (p < 0.002) continued to be a significant factor for local control. Factors on multivariate analysis that resulted in significant improvements in cancer-specific survival included any response to preoperative CTX/XRT (p < 0.017) and administration of adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.034). Any response to preoperative CTX/XRT improved distant metastatic-free and disease-free survival rates. Multivariate analysis confirmed that a response to preoperative CTX/XRT predicted for improvements in overall survival among patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients who fail to respond to preoperative 5-FU based chemotherapy given concomitantly with radiation have higher rates of distant metastases with adjuvant 5-FU therapy.     

Results of combination chemotherapy and thoracic radiation therapy for unresectable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung

From October 1979 to December 1982, 126 patients with locally advanced unresectable or inoperable Stage II (7 patients), Stage IIIA (81 patients), and Stage IIIB (38 patients) non-small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated in a prospective randomized trial using five cycles of CAP (Cytoxan, Adriamycin, and cisplatin), T-CAP (triazinate plus CAP), or V-CAP (VP-16 plus CAP) chemotherapy with thoracic radiation therapy (TRT). TRT consisted of 40 Gy in 10 fractions (split-course) with cycles 3 and 4 of chemotherapy. The treatment field included the primary tumor, ipsilateral hilum, mediastinum, and ipsilateral supraclavicular fossa. All patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 5 years for survivors. The evaluable subgroup consisted of 102 patients who completed TRT. Median and 5-year survivals for the entire group were 14.0 months and 10%, respectively; for the evaluable subgroup, they were 14.8 months and 12%, respectively. There was a trend toward better survival with V-CAP plus TRT than with CAP plus TRT (p = 0.08). Median and 5-year survivals were 16.2 months and 18%, respectively, with V-CAP plus TRT. Of eight prognostic variables analyzed for their association with survival, only Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0,1 versus 2) (p = 0.02) and weight loss (less than or equal to 10% versus greater than 10%) (p = 0.05) were significant. Sex, age, T stage, N stage, overall stage, and histologic type were not significantly associated with survival. Failure analysis revealed 83 patients (81%) with identifiable first failures. The median time to first failure was 9.8 months, and the median survival after first failure was 4.7 months. Failure patterns included local failure alone (19%), local and distant (20%), and distant alone (43%). Nineteen percent of patients had no documented progression. Total failure patterns were local in 39% and distant in 63%. Twenty-three patients (23%) had failure in the brain; they accounted for 31% of all distant failures. In 20 of these patients (20% of all patients), this was the only site of failure. There were eight (8%) initial nodal failures in 96 untreated contralateral supraclavicular fossae. No initial failures were seen in any of 101 untreated contralateral hila. The data suggest the following: (a) Combined treatment with V-CAP and TRT yielded excellent results (median survival, 16.2 months; 5-year survival, 18%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Concurrent chemotherapy/radiotherapy for limited small-cell lung carcinoma: a Southwest Oncology Group Study

The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) has conducted a phase II study to explore the efficacy and toxicity of initial, concurrent use of radiation therapy with cisplatin, etoposide (VP-16), and vincristine in limited-stage small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Two courses of cisplatin, VP-16, and vincristine chemotherapy were given with concurrent radiotherapy (XRT) to the primary tumor to a total dose of 4,500 cGy. Elective brain XRT was given to all patients concurrent with a third course of cisplatin/VP-16 therapy. Consolidation chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, methotrexate, and VP-16 alternating with Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) and cyclophosphamide, was given for 12 weeks following the initial induction chemotherapy/XRT program. Patients with a complete response had all therapy discontinued. Among 154 eligible patients treated, the complete response rate was 56%, with a partial response rate of 27%. The median survival is 17.5 months with an estimated 30% survival rate at 4 years from initiation of treatment. Combined modality toxicities were acceptable with the predominant toxicity being moderate to severe leukopenia and mild radiation esophagitis. The results of this treatment program appear superior to any previously reported by our group and compare favorably to those in the literature at large.     

A phase II trial of concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy with oral etoposide and cisplatin for locally advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancers

We report a phase II study to evaluate the survival rate, response rate and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (CT) with oral etoposide and cisplatin for patients with locally advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifty-four patients with locally advanced inoperable NSCLC who had received no prior therapy were enrolled into this trial between May 1995 and December 2000. Treatment consisted of two cycles of concurrent CT and four cycles of consolidation CT with oral etoposide (50 mg/m2) on days 1-14 during the CCRT courses and on days 1-21 during the consolidation CT courses, plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2 i.v.) on day 1 of a 28-day cycle. Conventional radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/fraction, 63 Gy over 7 weeks) was delivered from day 1 of the CT. Fifty-two patients were evaluable for response. Twelve patients (22%) achieved complete responses, and 32 patients (60%) achieved partial responses, for an overall response rate of 82% with a median duration of response of 9.1 months. Forty-three per cent developed grade 4 haematological toxicity, 11% grade 3 or 4 oesophagitis and 7% grade 3 or 4 lung toxicity. There were two treatment-related deaths, one from radiation pneumonitis and the other from sepsis. After a median follow-up duration of 50 months (range 20-85), the median overall survival time was 15.3 months (95% CI, 9.7-20.8), and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5 year overall survival rates were 62, 40, 30 and 16%, respectively. The duration of median progression-free survival was 12.3 months (95% CI, 7.4-17.3), and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 47, 40, 29 and 23%, respectively. Thus, concurrent conventional chest radiotherapy with oral etoposide plus cisplatin followed by consolidation CT led to an encouraging survival rate and prolongation of the time to progression, with moderate toxicity in patients with locally advanced inoperable NSCLC.     

Long-Term Results of CAP Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

This study was designed to study the efficacy and toxicity of an adriamycin-containing regimen (CAP: cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and prednisone) in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CAP was given to clinical complete remission followed by 18 months of cyclophosphamide-prednisone (CP) maintenance. Forty-seven patients with previously untreated CLL were treated. These patients initially presented with advanced stage (Rai III or IV) or had less advanced stage (Rai 0-II) patients and demonstrated evidence of disease progression. Patients received 750 mg/m² of cyclophosphamide intravenously on day 1, 50 mg/m² of adriamycin intravenously on day 1 and 100 mg/day of prednisone on days 1-5. Courses were repeated at 3-week intervals until clinical CR, at which time maintenance with cyclophosphamide and prednisone (CP) was commenced. A maximum cumulative dose of 450 mg/m² of adriamycin (9 courses of CAP) was given. Twenty (43%) of 47 patients obtained a CR and 11 (23%) obtained a partial remission. Bone marrow biopsy criteria were used to define response in addition to clinical and peripheral blood responses. All patients have been followed for 10 years. The median survival was 259 weeks. No patient remains in remission. No impact of response on survival was found. Surprisingly, the response rate and survival were higher and longer for patients with more advanced stages and higher tumor burdens. The median survival times for patients with Rai stage IV and Binet stage C disease were 93 months and 81 months, respectively. Although the regimen was well tolerated, three patients, each with an antecedent cardiac risk factor, developed congestive heart failure. Adriamycin containing regimens can be safely given to elderly patients with CLL and show promise in the treatment of advanced stage disease.     

A phase II study of concurrent temozolomide and cis-retinoic acid with radiation for adult patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma

PURPOSE: This Phase II study was designed to determine the median survival time of adults with supratentorial glioblastoma treated with a combination of temozolomide (TMZ) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (cRA) given daily with conventional radiation therapy (XRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a single arm, open-labeled, Phase II study. Patients were treated with XRT in conjunction with cRA and TMZ. Both drugs were administered starting on Day 1 of XRT, and chemotherapy cycles continued after the completion of XRT to a maximum of 1 year. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study. Time to progression was known for 55 patients and 6 were censored. The estimated 6-month progression-free survival was 38% and the estimated 1-year progression-free survival was 15%. Median time to progression was estimated as 21 weeks. The estimated 1-year survival was 57%. The median survival was 57 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy was relatively well tolerated, but there was no survival advantage compared with historical studies using XRT either with adjuvant nitrosourea chemotherapy, with TMZ alone, or with the combination of TMZ and thalidomide. Based on this study, cRA does not seem to add a significant synergistic effect to TMZ and XRT.     

Prospective pilot study of consolidation chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

PURPOSE: With the improvement concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in the management of patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), distant failures have become a more relevant problem in terms of survival. The primary objective of this Phase II study is to assess the feasibility of docetaxel and cisplatin consolidation after primary CCRT for patients with HNSCC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with locoregionally advanced HNSCC received chemotherapy with three cycles of cisplatin, 100 mg/m(2), on Days 1, 22, and 43. Concurrent radiotherapy to the primary tumor and neck was given in a daily dose of 2 Gy to a total dose of 70-70.2 Gy over 7 weeks. After completion of CCRT, patients without evidence of disease progression received an additional four cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with docetaxel, 75 mg/m(2), and cisplatin, 75 mg/m(2), every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Of 33 patients, 27 (81%) completed CCRT. After CCRT, three complete and 19 partial responses were recorded, giving an overall response rate of 67%. Of 19 patients who went to the consolidation phase, only 4 (21%) received all four cycles of docetaxel and cisplatin. Causes of failure of consolidation chemotherapy were toxicity in 11 patients, including three treatment-related deaths, and progression in 4 patients. Three patients died of sepsis during the consolidation phase. Median survival was 11 months for all patients and 8 months for those treated with consolidation chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The poor compliance and high incidence of severe toxicities prompted no further evaluation of this consolidation chemotherapy after CCRT.     

Pilot clinical trial of localized concurrent chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) have a particularly grave prognosis. In the current study, an attempt was made to localize chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) followed by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with locally advanced HCC with PVT and good reserve liver function. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of localized CCRT followed by HAIC as a new treatment modality for these patients. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2003, 40 patients were recruited. Concurrent regional chemotherapy using an intra-arterial implanted port plus localized external beam radiotherapy was performed with a total of 45 gray (Gy) over 5 weeks with conventional fractionation and hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which was administered during the first and fifth weeks of radiotherapy. One month after localized CCRT, HAIC with 5-FU and cisplatin was administered every 4 weeks. RESULTS: One month after localized CCRT, an objective response was observed on the intention-to-treat analysis in 18 of 40 patients (45%). The actuarial 3-year overall survival rate was 24.1% and the median survival time was 13.1 months from the start of radiation treatment. Responders after localized CCRT demonstrated significantly better survival (P = .033) than nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial response rate as well as median survival time noted in the current study encourages the use of this new approach in patients with locally advanced HCC with PVT.     

Chemotherapy can prolong survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer--report of a Canadian multicenter randomized trial

The survival benefit of combination chemotherapy to patients with advanced non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) is controversial. To study this question, the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group conducted a prospective randomized trial comparing best supportive care (BSC) to two chemotherapy regimens, vindesine and cisplatin (VP), and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CAP). Between February 1983 and January 1986, 23 centers across Canada entered 251 patients on study. Eighteen centers participated in the three-arm schema (150 patients); centers choosing not to participate in a study with a no-chemotherapy arm followed a two-arm schema comparing VP with CAP (101 additional patients). Altogether, 233 patients were eligible. Patients had measurable or evaluable disease, with either distant metastases (82.5%) or bulky limited disease considered inoperable or unsuitable for radical radiotherapy. The treatment groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, performance status, histology, disease extent, and weight loss. The overall response rates (complete response [CR] plus partial response [PR]) on the chemotherapy arms were CAP, 15.3%, and VP, 25.3% (P = .06). Patients on the three-arm portion of the trial had a median survival of 32.6 weeks when treated with VP, 24.7 weeks with CAP, and 17 weeks with BSC. The significance of the differences in survival, adjusted for prognostic factors, is as follows: chemotherapy v BSC, P = .02; VP v BSC, P = .01; and CAP v BSC, P = .05. Toxicity on the chemotherapy arms was significant, with leukopenia of severe or greater degree occurring in 37.8% (CAP) and 40.0% (VP), severe vomiting in 12.2% (CAP) and 23.3% (VP), and severe neurotoxicity in 15.6% (VP).     

Biweekly docetaxel and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer

This study was designed to evaluate the antitumor activity and tolerance of biweekly docetaxel plus vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Forty-one patients with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy for MBC were treated with docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) plus vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) on day 1, every 2 weeks for a maximum of 12 courses. Median age was 58 years (range, 23-75). Fourteen patients (34.1%) were premenopausal and 27 (65.9%) were postmenopausal. Most patients had received prior neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 27, 65.9%), radiation therapy (n = 22, 53.6%), and hormone therapy (n = 21, 51.2%). The most frequent sites of metastasis were bone (n = 18, 43.9%), pleuropulmonary (n = 16, 39%), and liver (n = 14, 34.1%). Twenty-seven patients (65.9%) had more than one site of metastasis. Three hundred and thirty-nine courses were given (median, 8 courses per patient; range, 1-12). Median relative dose intensity was 85% for both docetaxel and vinorelbine. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (14 patients, 34.1%), febrile neutropenia (n = 14, 34.1%), and stomatitis (n = 4, 9.8%). No treatment-related deaths were reported. All patients were assessed for response in an intent-to-treat analysis. Four patients (9.8%) had a complete response and 19 (46.3%) had a partial response (overall response rate, 56.1%; 95% CI, 42%-70%). Six patients (14.6%) had stable disease and 12 patients (29.3%) had progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 15.1 months or until death, median duration of response is 12.6 months. Median time to progression is 12.4 months. Median survival time is 19.6 months. This biweekly combination of docetaxel plus vinorelbine is feasible and active as first-line chemotherapy in patients with MBC. This regimen is safe and well tolerated.     

Ifosfamide plus doxorubicin in previously untreated patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma

The objective of this phase II trial was to assess the therapeutic activity and toxicity of doxorubicin plus ifosfamide in previously untreated patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Treatment was doxorubicin 50 mg/m² followed by a 24 h infusion of ifosfamide 5 g/m² plus mesna 2.5 g/m² repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. Of 203 patients entered, 175 were evaluable for response. The response rate was 35% (95% CI 28–42%), with 9% of the patients achieving a complete remission and 26% a partial remission. The median time to progression was 29 weeks for all evaluable patients, and 67, 40 and 28 weeks for complete and partial responders and patients with stable disease, respectively. The median duration of survival was 58 weeks. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, resulting in leukopenia (WHO grade 3 and 4) in 73% of evaluable treatment courses. Other side-effects were rare and usually well manageable.     

Duration of chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer: a Cancer Research Campaign trial

A total of 610 patients with small cell lung cancer were entered into a randomised trial designed to assess the effect of duration of initial chemotherapy on survival. Patients were randomised to receive either four or eight courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and etoposide and also randomised to receive, on disease progression, either second line chemotherapy (methotrexate and doxorubicin) or symptomatic treatment only. In the whole study 196 (32.1%) had limited disease and 414 (67.9%) extensive disease. During initial chemotherapy the response rate (complete and partial responses) after four courses of treatment was 61% with no significant increase in patients receiving eight courses (63%). In those randomised to receive relapse chemotherapy the response rate was improved slightly for those who had originally received four courses of chemotherapy (25.6%) over those receiving eight (18.7%). The overall results show that of the four possible treatment randomizations, four courses of chemotherapy alone is inferior in terms of overall survival (30 weeks median survival) to the other three treatment options (39 weeks median survival, P less than 0.01). In patients responding to initial chemotherapy the disadvantage of four courses of chemotherapy alone was apparent (median survival of 40 weeks versus 49 weeks, P = 0.003) but not if drug treatment was given on relapse. The study shows that limiting treatment to four courses of chemotherapy alone is associated with inferior survival, but this is not the case if chemotherapy is given at relapse.     

Combined antiestrogen and cytotoxic therapy with pseudomonas vaccine immunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. A prospective, randomized trial

One hundred thirty-three consecutive, previously untreated patients who had metastatic breast cancer were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (FAC). They were randomly assigned to receive nonspecific immunotherapy with a heptavalent pseudomonas vaccine. Sixty-five patients were treated with pseudomonas vaccine, whereas 68 did not receive immunotherapy. In addition, all patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors or tumors with an estrogen receptor status were also treated with tamoxifen. To allow clinical assessment of hormone sensitivity in vivo, tamoxifen was started 6 weeks before chemotherapy except in patients who had life-threatening disease. After the initial 6 weeks of tamoxifen, 3% of patients had achieved a complete remission, 9% a partial remission, while 16% achieved a minor response. The maximum response after tamoxifen and chemotherapy included complete remissions in 20% of patients and partial remissions in 61% of patients for an overall remission rate of 81%. The median response duration was 15 months, and the median survival time, 27 months. There were no differences in remission rate, remission duration, or survival time between the groups treated with or without pseudomonas vaccine. Eleven patients with limited metastatic disease received radiotherapy consolidation to initially involved sites. In these patients the median time from radiotherapy to progression of disease was 33 months, and the median survival time was 46 months. We conclude that nonspecific immunotherapy with pseudomonas vaccine failed to increase remission rate or survival time. Furthermore, the addition of tamoxifen to FAC chemotherapy did not improve the remission rate or duration compared to a recent, historical control group of patients treated with only FAC chemotherapy.     

The effect of dose of thoracic irradiation on recurrence in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer. Initial results of a Canadian Multicenter Randomized Trial

Patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer were initially randomized to receive either three courses of Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, and Vincristine (CAV) followed by three courses of VP-16 and Cis-platin (VP-PT) or six courses of alternating CAV and VP-PT. Responding patients received prophylactic cranial radiation (PCI) after three courses of chemotherapy (CT) and loco-regional thoracic radiation (LRTR) after six courses. No maintenance chemotherapy was given. Patients receiving LRTR were randomized to receive either 25 Gy in ten fractions over 2 weeks (SD) or 37.5 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks (HD). In both arms the pre-chemotherapy disease was treated with a 2 cm margin around the primary tumor volume. The mediastinum was included in the treatment volume and the supraclavicular nodes were also included if involved originally. The spinal cord was shielded after 32 Gy. Of the 333 patients enrolled by the time the trial closed in October 1984, 168 were eventually randomized to LRTR and are eligible for response assessment. The overall response rate after combined RT and CT was 94% (CR 67%, PR 27%). The CR rate for SD was 65% and for HD 69%. The combined treatment was well tolerated by most patients. Forty-nine percent of HD patients developed dysphagia compared to 26% of those SD (p less than 0.01). At the time of this analysis the median duration of follow-up since randomization to radiotherapy is 30 months. The median local progression-free survival on HD is 49 weeks. On SD it is 38 weeks (p = 0.05, one sided). The actuarial incidence of local progression by 2 years is 69% on HD and 80% on LD. There is as yet no significant difference in overall survival between the two arms. It appears that HD radiotherapy as administered in this study may have an impact on local control, but it is too early to determine if this will translate into a survival benefit.     

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of small cell lung carcinoma

Fourteen patients with untreated small cell bronchogenic carcinoma were treated initially with 2 chemotherapy courses of cyclophosphamide (1.5 g/m2 days 1-3), 4-dimethyl epipodophylloxtin (200 mg/m2 days 1-3), vincristine (1.5 mg/m2 days 1 and 3), and with Adriamycin (80 mg/m2 day 1) in 8 patients and without Adriamycin in 6 patients. To modify hematopoietic toxicity from these high doses of chemotherapy, autologous marrow collected and frozen before storage was thawed and infused after each of these high-dose therapies. After this therapy patients received prophylactic brain irradiation (3000 rad), 4 courses of usual doses of these same drugs and then 5000 rad chest irradiation if there was still evidence of disease (PR) or randomized to radiation if in complete remission (CR). Response rate was high, with 54% CR and 46% PR, a total of 100%. However, a median response duration of 41 weeks and median survival of 56 weeks, are similar to other chemotherapy programs. Toxicity was mild except for cardiac arrhythmias when Adriamycin was included. The reasons for no therapeutic increment are discussed.     

Avm (adriamycin, vinblastine, methotrexate) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced or inflammatory carcinoma of the breast

Thirty-eight consecutive patients with locally advanced (stage IIIb/IVa-c) or inflammatory breast cancer (stage IVd) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our department between 1978-1990. All patients in this phase II study, received from three to five courses of neoadjuvant AVM regimen (Adriamycin, Vincristine, Methotrexate). Complete or partial response (CR+PR) was observed in 94.6% of this group of patients after the completion of therapy (chemotherapy + surgery + consolidation therapy) and in 97.3% at the completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. The overall 5-year median survival was 31.86% with a median disease-free time of 13 months. Only one patient showed progression of disease before surgery and was excluded from the study. The annual incidence of relapse in this study was 35% and the first metastatic event was observed locally in 1/4 of the patients examined. Low to moderate toxicity observed was reversible and easily controlled. We conclude that AVM neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a well tollerated regimen with long term clinical response in locally advanced breast cancer patients.