Uracil/tegafur plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a multi-institutional phase II trial.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a novel combination treatment using concurrent radiotherapy with cisplatin plus UFT, which is comprised of uracil and tegafur, in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

In this Phase II trial, patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were treated with the oral administration of UFT (400 mg/m(2)/d tegafur) on days 1-14 and days 29-42 whereas 80 mg/m(2) cisplatin was administered i.v. on days 8 and 36. Radiotherapy, with a total dose of 60 Gy, was delivered in 30 fractions from day 1.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were enrolled and eligible, as follows: 57 males/13 females; mean age 61 ranging from 36 to 74; performance status 0/1:45/25; stage IIIA/IIIB, 14/56. A complete response was observed in two patients and a partial response in 54 patients, and the overall response rate was 81% (95% confidence interval; 70-89%). The median survival, the 1- and 2-year survival rates were 16.5 months, 67% and 33%, respectively. Grade 3/4 leukopenia occurred in 14%/1% of the patients. Grades 3 non-hematological toxicities were only reported in three patients with nausea, two with esophagitis and one with pneumonitis whereas no grade 4 non-hematological toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

UFT plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy is considered to be a feasible and effective treatment for locally advanced NSCLC patients. Additional study of this concurrent chemoradiotherapy is warranted.