Combination chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Sixty patients with advanced squamous cell lung carcinoma were entered in a study comparing the effectiveness of BACON and CAP combination chemotherapy. The CAP regimen was superior to the BACON regimen in response rate (50% vs 33%), median survival time (36 vs 24 weeks), and median time to progression (25 vs 16 weeks). Median survival time for responders was longer in both treated groups than for nonresponders. Side effects were significant, but generally reversible. This study seems to indicate a role for the CAP combination (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, cisplatinum) as treatment for patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma.