Ambulatory low-toxicity chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung carcinoma by continuous 28-day infusion of alternating cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil

Abstract

Background: One regimen consisting of a continuous infusion of cisplatin and fluorouracil was designed to be minimally toxic, and suitable for application with radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)Patients and methods: Forty-four NSCLC patients received daily 8 mg/m2 of cisplatin on days 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, and 300 mg/m2 of fluorouracil on days 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 (35-day courses)Results: Two patients experienced grade 3-4 toxicities. Eleven achieved objective responses. The median progression-free and observed survival was 22 and 39.5 weeksConclusions: The schedule management was fully ambulatory. Toxicity was negligible. The activity was moderate, but the combination with radiotherapy is advisable due to the radioenhancing properties of both of the drugs © 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers.