Differing response rates and survival between squamous and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Comparison of CAP versus MAP.

One hundred and thirty patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were treated in a randomized study with either CAP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) or MAP (mitomycin C, doxorubicin, and cisplatin). Among all patients, regardless of cell type, the regression rate was slightly higher for MAP (46%) than CAP (34%) but no differences were detected in time to progression and overall survival. However, differences were apparent by treatment when patients were divided into two groups: squamous cell (SQC) and non-squamous cell (non-SQC). MAP, compared to CAP, was associated with a significantly superior regression rate (60% vs. 33%), time to progression, and overall survival in SQC. On the other hand, CAP, compared to MAP, was associated with a significantly longer overall survival in non-SQC. This apparent difference among subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer in response to chemotherapy regimens differing only in one drug, if confirmed, will need to be kept in mind in designing future studies.