A phase III study on intermittent versus weekly cisplatin and etoposide in the treatment of advanced non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.

A group of 55 patients with advanced non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma entered a random study on combined cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide (VP16), either intermittently (I = CDDP 60 mg/m2 day 1 and VP16 120 mg/m2 day 1-3 every 3-4 weeks) or weekly (W = CDDP 20 mg/m2 and VP16 120 mg/m2). Five out of 31 (16%) evaluable patients in group I and 6/27 (22%) in group W obtained partial remission (no statistical difference). Toxicity was mild and survival was similar for both groups. The authors conclude that the weekly combination of CDDP plus VP16 is neither less toxic nor more effective than the intermittent one.