Vindesine with cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-cisplatin in the treatment locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: To evaluate the addition of vindesine to a cyclophosphamide-epirubicin-cisplatin (CAP) regimen for treating the patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: From May 1994to August 1998, 59 previously untreated patients with stage Ⅲa and Ⅲb non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled into this trial. Patients characteristics were the following: the median age was 52 years; the median performance status was 1; there were 19 stage Ⅲa and 40 stage Ⅲb; there were 47 adenocarcinoma, 10squamous cell carcinoma and 2 large cell carcinoma. All patients were treated with vindesine (2 mg/m2, on day 1and day 8), cyclophosphamide (0.6/m2, on day 1),epirubicin (40 mg/m2, on day 1) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2,on day 1) every 3 or 4 weeks. Results: Four achieved a complete response (6.8%), 29 achieved a partial response (49.2%), 15 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. A clinical improvement was in 45 of 59 patients (76.3%). The most frequent major toxic effects were myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting.Conclusion: The vindesine with CAP regimen was active combination chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced NSCLC accompanied by the limited side effects.