Results of a phase II protocol for evaluation of new chemotherapeutic regimens in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma (EST-2575, generation I).

Two hundred and eighty-four patients with inoperable non-small cell lung carcinoma were randomized by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group to receive one of seven primary chemotherapy regimens: cyclophosphamide and methotrexate; Baker's antifol; vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate; melphalan; cyclophosphamide and CCNU (control arm); 5-FU procarbazine; and hexamethylmelamine, doxorubicin, and methotrexate (HAM). Patients with disease progression were eligible for treatment with VM-26 or ascorbic acid. HAM resulted in higher response rates than cyclophosphamide and CCNU in patients with adenocarcinoma (32%) and large cell carcinoma (23%).