Response rate and toxicity of etoposide (VP-16) in squamous carcinoma of the lung: report from the Lung Cancer Treatment Study Group.

In two multicenter studies, 325 patients with advanced squamous lung cancer were randomized to receive either no treatment v oral etoposide (VePe-sid) 300 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2 for 6 cycles, or the same dose of oral etoposide v the same dose of oral etoposide plus cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 2, each given for 6 cycles. A total of 175 patients in both trials received oral etoposide alone. All patients assigned to treatment were included in the results. Remissions occurred in 20 (11%) patients (CR in 1; PR in 19). Leukopenia occurred in 2% of patients and other toxicity was acceptable.