IMMEDIATE VERSUS POSTPONED COMBINATION CHEMOTHERAPY (CAMP) FOR UNRESECTABLE NON-SMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER - A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (11-1) , 973-978
Abstract
A randomized control trial was performed in good performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer to test a strategy of early aggressive combination chemotherapy (CAMP [cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate and procarbazine]) vs. a strategy of delaying such treatment until clinical deterioration. Thirty-seven patients received immediate CAMP; 35 patients received initial low-dose single-agent CCNU [1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea] (CAMP was postponed). Immediate CAMP therapy produced an objective response rate of 44% in patients with measurable lesions; CCNU produced none. Median survival was 193 days for the immediate-CAMP group and 175 days for the postponed-CAMP group (P = 0.26). Measures of quality of life were made; no difference emerged between the 2 treatment strategies. This trial failed to show substantial benefit from immediate combination chemotherapy in minimally symptomatic patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

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