Comparison of combination chemotherapy programs in advanced adenocarcinoma-large cell carcinoma of the lung: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group study.

One hundred and six patients with advanced adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma of the lung with no prior chemotherapy were entered in a prospectively randomized trial comparing cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin versus methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and lomustine. The two regimens resulted in nearly identical regression probabilities (36% vs 34%), distributions of time to progression, and survival distributions. The major toxic effects from both regimens consisted primarily of myelosuppression and nausea and vomiting, with severe vomiting occurring more frequently in patients treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (43% vs 19%).