[Combination chemotherapy with navelbine and cisplatin in the treatment of 90 patients with non-small cell lung cancer.].

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of navelbine (NVB) and cisplatin (DDP) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) .

METHODS

From April 1994 to December 1998 , 90 patients with NSCLC were treated with NVB plus DDP. NVB was given at a dose of 25 to 30 mg/ m(2) on days 1 and 8 ; DDP 60 to 80 mg/ m(2) on day 3. The schedule was repeated every 28 days , with at least two cycles.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 27. 8 %(25/ 90) and 41. 0 %(16/ 39) for stage III and only 16. 5 %(8/ 48) for stage IV. The difference in the response rate of the two groups was statistically significant ( P < 0. 005) . The main adverse reactions were leukopenia and phlebitis. The prevalence of grade III and IV leukopenia was 20 % and 18. 9 % , respectively. Supporting by G-CSF , no fatal complication was observed in this study. The prevalence of phlebitis was 32. 2 %(29/ 90) and could be decreased significantly with the improvement of the way of NVB adminstration.

CONCLUSIONS

The regimen of NVB plus DDP is an effective method to treat NSCLC and its dose limiting toxicity was leukopenia.