Adjuvant vinorelbine and cisplatin after complete resection of stage II and III non-small cell lung cancer: long-term follow-up of our study of Japanese patients.

PURPOSE

We reported previously a phase II study of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of four cycles of vinorelbine (25 mg/m) and cisplatin (40 mg/m), given on days 1 and 8, every 4 weeks, to Japanese patients with completely resected stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; UMIN 000005055). However, the follow-up was too short for us to evaluate a definitive 5-year overall survival rate and after-effects.

METHODS

Between December 2006 and January 2011, 60 patients were enrolled in this study. We analyzed relapse-free and overall survival, long-lasting adverse effects, the influence of treatment on recurrent tumors, and the development of a second primary cancer, in relation with the regimen.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up period of 95.8 months, the 5-year relapse-free and overall survival rates were 51.7 and 76.7%, respectively. Neuralgia developed in one patient and this was the only case of a long-lasting adverse effect. Recurrence developed in 31 patients, 29 of whom received intensive treatment. Although 16 s (or more) primary neoplasms developed among 13 patients, these were common carcinomas in Japan and did not include sarcoma or hematologic malignancies.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant vinorelbine and cisplatin chemotherapy showed encouraging relapse-free and overall survival rates, and long-term safety in Japanese patients with resected NSCLC.