Carboplatin and Vindesine in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. A Feasibility Study

Summary

Twenty-eight patients affected by advanced non-small cell lung cancet (NSCLC) were enrolled in a feasibility study evaluating toxicity and activity of carboplatin-vindesine combination chemotherapy, according to two different schedules.

Fourteen patients were treated with carboplatin 350 mg/m² monthly and vindesine 3 mg/m² weekly for 5 doses, then every other week (schedule 1). The activity observed was promising with 3 partial remissions, but the toxicity was substantial, preventing full dose administration in 11 out of 14 patients.

The subsequent 14 patients were treated with carboplatin 350 mg/m² monthly and vindesine 3 mg/m² on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Activity was maintained with 4 partial remissions and toxicity was quite tolerable, allowing all patients to receive the planned treatment.

The combination of carboplatin 350 mg/m² on day 1 and vindesine 3 mg/m² on days 1 and 8 seems active and well tolerated in advanced NSCLC patients and deserves further evaluation in a larger phase II study.

Key Words:

• non-small cell lung saucer
• carboplatin
• vindesine