Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 12, 1814-1820, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Daily low-dose cisplatin plus concurrent high-dose thoracic irradiation in locally advanced unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer: results of a phase II Southwest Oncology Group study
MB Hazuka, JJ Crowley, PA Bunn Jr, M O'Rourke, TJ Braun and RB Livingston
University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
PURPOSE: This single-arm phase II trial was designed to evaluate the
efficacy and toxicity of continuous-course, high-dose thoracic irradiation
(RT) combined with concurrent daily low-dose cisplatin followed by
high-dose cisplatin consolidation in patients with locally advanced
unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The daily chemotherapy
regimen was designed to optimize the radiosensitizing properties of
cisplatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients from 21 participating
institutions were entered onto the study between April 1989 and May 1991.
Protocol therapy consisted of daily intravenous (i.v.) cisplatin (5 mg/m2)
plus concurrent continuous-course RT (61 Gy over 6 1/2 weeks) both
delivered Monday through Friday each week. After a 3- to 4-week rest
period, this was followed by three 28-day cycles of cisplatin at 100 mg/m2
or subsequently 50 mg/m2 administered i.v. on days 1 and 8 of each cycle.
RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were eligible; the majority had unresectable
stage IIIa (36%) or IIIb (55%) NSCLC. The remaining 9% had recurrent
disease confined to the chest (five patients) or stage II disease (one
patient). The feasibility of this regimen is demonstrated by the fact that
only five patients (8%) were unable to complete daily cisplatin and RT
because of toxicity. Esophagitis (16%), leukopenia (14%), nausea (8%), and
vomiting (6%) were the most common severe (grade 3) toxicities. There was
only one life-threatening toxicity (grade 4 nausea) and no
treatment-related deaths. The objective response rate was 39%, and six
patients (9%) achieved a radiographic complete response (CR). The median
survival duration for all patients was 14 months, and the 1- and 2-year
actuarial survival rates were 56% and 24%, respectively. For stage IIIa
patients, the median survival duration and 2-year survival rate were 17
months and 38%, as compared with 10 months and 14% for stage IIIb patients,
respectively. CONCLUSION: Daily low-dose cisplatin plus concurrent
high-dose continuous-course RT is a well-tolerated out- patient regimen.
The survival results are encouraging and appear to be equivalent to more
toxic combined approaches. These results warrant further testing of
combined daily platinum analogs with RT.