Adriamycin and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum in nonresectable and metastatic carcinoma of the lung.

The combination of adriamycin and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (DDP) was evaluated in 20 patients with nonresectable and metastatic carcinoma of the lung. Both drugs were administered at a dosage of 60 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks. The overall objective response rate was 40% (eight of 20 patients) with two complete responses (CR) and six partial responses (PR). Four of eight patients with small cell carcinoma responded (1 CR and 3 PR) and four of 12 patients with nonsmall cell carcinoma responded (1 CR and 3 PR). The median duration of response was greater than 36 weeks. The median survival of responders was 54 weeks. Nausea and vomiting were major side effects but rarely lasted longer than 2 days. Renal and bone marrow toxicities were generally minimal and controlled by dosage reduction. However, there was one death secondary to severe myelosuppression.