High-dose cyclophosphamide versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-FU, and hydroxyurea (CMFH) in the treatment of stage III non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma: a randomized trial.

Fifty-eight patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (33 with epidermoid carcinoma, 22 with adenocarcinoma, and three with large cell anaplastic carcinoma) were treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) or, alternatively, with CTX, methotrexate, 5-FU, and hydroxyurea (CMFH) in a controlled study. Two partial remissions were achieved (one in each regimen [13%]. Seventeen of 29 patients treated with CTX and 14 of 29 patients treated with CMFH showed no change (differences were not statistically significant). Toxicity was moderate in both regimens. Median survival was 24 weeks for patients treated with CTX and 26 weeks for patients treated with CMFH (differences were not significant). The results show that the therapeutic activity of CMFH is not higher than that of CTX alone.