A randomized prospective study of cisplatin and vinblastine versus cisplatin, vinblastine and mitomycin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract
From June 1986 to February 1989, 103 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, with no previous chemotherapy, were randomized to receive either a combination of cisplatin and vinblastine (group A) or the same combination with the addition of mitomycin (group B). In group A, 15/48 evaluable patients had objective responses, as did 8/45 in group B. The median survivals were 35 and 32 weeks, respectively. The median survival of patients with response or stable disease was 43 weeks. Response and sur- vival did not differ significantly between treatment groups. The addition of mitomycin to the two-drug combination showed no major therapeutic benefit, while bone marrow toxicity was increased. Three patients in group B died of sepsis. Among the different patient characteristics, disease stage, performance status and response had influence on survival.