Extensive non-small cell lung cancer treated with mitomycin, cisplatin, and vindesine (MiPE): a Southwest Oncology Group Study

Ninety-seven previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of mitomycin (10 mg/m2) on Day 1, cisplatin (50 mg/m2) on Days 1 and 22, and vindesine (3 mg/m2) on Days 1 and 22 (MiPE). MiPE was repeated at 6-week intervals until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The overall response rate was 33%. There were seven complete responses (7%) and 25 partial responses (26%). The median progression-free interval for responding patients was 7 months. Median survival for all patients was 5 months, with 16% surviving 1 year. One patient died from sepsis while neutropenic. The results with MiPE treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer compare favorably to other mitomycin-vinca combinations previously tested in the Southwest Oncology Group.