[Preliminary results of postoperative trial therapy of epidermoid cancer of the lung (European Organization for Research on the Treatment of Cancer, Bronchus Group. Protocol 08741)].

650 patients entered the study between 5/74 and 4/79 and are currently evaluable. Prior to entry, all underwent complete resection of squamous cell bronchial carcinoma. Patients were initially randomized to receive radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy. Following that a second stage randomization ascribed patients to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, immunochemotherapy and observation. Current analysis of results shows that : 1. Patients with negative nodes did not benefit from post-operative radiotherapy; on such patients, survival was significantly shorter following radiotherapy. 2. In patients with positive nodes, post-operative radiotherapy prevented local recurrence, but did not prolong survival. The data from the second stage randomization are currently being analyzed.