Abstracts / Lung Cancer 16 (1996) 105-127 123

vival period was seen in patients with large cell carcinoma. The results suggest that moderate success might be expected in selected patients using the IA(E)P Further work should be undertaken in developing countries using mntrolled clinical trials to more fully determine the efficacy of IA(E)P in treating NSCLC.

Combined chemotherapy in pleurectomized malignant pleural mesothelioma patients Hashuk S, Tastepe I, Unlu M, Cetin G, Baris YI. Cumhuriyel Cad. 240 Sok, I7/4 Can apt. Resatbey, 01120 Adana. J Chemother 1996;8: 159- 64.

A phase II clinical trial of 20 cancer patients who presented with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) between November 1991 and April 1993 was conducted. Gfthe histologically proven cases, 16 (80%) were epitheloid and 4 (20”/0) were mixed type MPM Patients were heated with mitomycin C, cisplatin, and alpha interferon after pleurectomy. Gur schedule consisted of 10 mglm%l mitomycin C i.v. infusion, 50 mg/m%l cisplatin i.v. infusion, 10 ml Ur-alpha interferon i.m. and 10 ml Ur-alpha interferon i.v. infusion on the first day of treatment Pa- tients were given a mean of 4.5 chemotherapy cycles (range: 2-6). None of the patients showed complete or partial response. Stable disease was observed in 15 patients, while 5 patients had progressive courses. The overall median survival time alter chemotherapy was 12 months (range: 3-31 months). Median survival after chemotherapy was 15 months (range: d-31 months) in the stable disease group (n:15, 750/o), and 5 months (range: 3 13 months) in progressive cases (n:5,25%). The over- all survival rates were 55% [95%Confidence Interval (CI):43% - 88.8%] at one year and 15% (95% CI :5% - 39.1%) at 2 years. Five patients had grade 3 alopecia, three had grade 2 vomiting and nausea, two had grade 2 leukopenia, one had grade 2 cardiotoxicity and another had discoloration on his fingernails. In our multimodal therapy protocol, we found no difference in survival and relapse rates between our com- bined modal therapy and other single modal therapies in the literature.

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy for advanced disease: How to raise enthusiasm McVie JG. Cancer Research Campaign, 10 Cambridge Terrace, Lon- don NW4JL. Chest 1996;109:SUPPL:80-82.

Over the last 5 years, the newer chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, vindesine, vinorelbine tartrate INavelbineI, taxoids, and gemcitabine) have given greater hope in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Despite this, it has proved very difficult to organize trials large enough to show significant differences. Reasons for this include negative physician attitudes, the high cost of entering patients in trials, lack of cooperation between research organizations, and the perception of a self- imposed disease. To overcome this, communication with lung physicians, surgeons, and patients as well as oncologists is needed, and they must be involved through an appropriate choice of journals for publishing results, interaction between organizations, an information network linking hospitals, general physicians, and patients, and brief- ing of local and national media experts.

Therapeutic role of coagulation in small cell lung cancer Lebeau B. Service de Pneumologie, Hopital Saint-Antoine. 184 Rue du Fauboug Saint-Antoine, F 75012 Paris. Rev Mal Respir 1996; 13 : 21-6.

Biological data and several experimental works have shown evi- dence of the important relationship that exists between the develop- ment of the neoplastic process and phenomena linked to blood coagula- tion. This relationship would appear particularly important in small cell bronchopulmonary cancer. Several therapeutic trials are attached to confirming in vivo the hopes furnished by the series on the mecha- nism of thrombosis in associating chemotherapy with coagulation therapy. If Aspirin used in a dose for anti-platelet aggregation is re- vealed as being insutllcient then anti-Vitamin K and standard Heparin have brought an undeniable benefit to the level of response and sur- vival in phase three random&d trials. Urokinase also brings a promis- ing improvement in an open phase two trial but has to be confirmed.

Phase II trial of docetaxel in previously untreated advanced non-small- cell lung cancer: A Japanese cooperative study Kunitoh H, Watanabe K, Gnoshi T, Furuse K, Niitani H, Taguchi T. DIMTO, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-l-l Tmkiji, Chuo-Ku. Tokyo 104. J Clin Oncol 19%;14:1649-55.

Purpose: This phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of moderate-dose (60 mp/mr) docetaxel in Japanese pa- tients with previously untreated advanced (stage IIIB or IV) non-small- cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Docetaxel60 mg/m* was administered intravenously over 1 to 2 hours to patients with pre- viously untreated stage IIIB or IV NSCLC. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. No routine premeditation was given. The patients’ me- dian age was 67 years (range, 40 to 80). Forty-four patients (59%) had adenozarcinoma and 55 (73%) had stage IV disease. The median East- em Cooperative Oncology Group (ECGG) performance status (PS) was 1. Results: Seventy-five patients were eligible and treated with docetaxel. Fourteen patients (19%) achieved a partial response (PR); response was not signikantty affected by histology or clinical stage. The median survival time for all patients was 297 days. The predominant toxicity was neutropenia, with 87% of patients experiencing grade 3 or 4. Fe- brile neutropenia was seen in eight patients. Hypersensitivity and edema each occurred in only 4% of patients and were easily manageable. There was one possible treatment-related death of acute exacerbation of pneu- monitis. Conclusion: Docetaxel 60 mg/rn? showed significant activity in advanced NSCLC, with a low incidence of hypersensitivity or pe- ripheral edema. Further investigation of this agent in NSCLC is war- ranted, especially in combination with other active drugs.

A phase II study of cisplatin, vindesine and continuously in- fused S-fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced non-small- cell lung cancer Nakano T, Ikegami H, Nakamura S. Third Department Internal Medr- tine, Hyogo College of Medicine, I-l Mukogmva-cho, Nishmomiya, Hvogo 663. Br J Cancer 1996; 73:1096-1100.

Fifty-two previously untreated patients with advancednon-small- cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated on a 14 day cycle with cisplatin (60 mg m2 i.v.) and vindesine (3 mg m-* i.v.) on day 1, followed by a 3 day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil(800 mg m-2 day’) starting on day 8. An overall response rate of 40.4% was observed in 47 evaluable patients, which included one complete response and 18 partial responses. Responses were achieved in 61.1% of stage 3 patients and 27.6% of stage 4 patients. The median progression-free interval was 19.3 weeks, and median survival time was 41.6 weeks (47.1 weeks for patients with stage 3 disease and 38.7 weeks for those with stage 4 disease). Toxicity was well tolerated. Gastrointestinal and renal toxicities did not exceed WHO grade 2. Grade 3 or 4 leucopenia and anaemia occurred in nine