Trial of the combination of mitomycin, vindesine, and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

In prior trials, mitomycin, vindesine, and cisplatin have each been shown to have reproducible antitumor activity as single agents when used in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The two-drug combinations of vindesine plus high-dose cisplatin or mitomycin have shown an improved major response rate and manageable toxicity in prior trials. In this report, 90 patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer were treated with the three-drug combination of mitomycin (8 mg/m²), vindesine (3 mg/m²), and high-dose cisplatin (120 mg/m²). Eighty-seven patients (97%) were adequate for both response and toxicity. Major objective responses occurred in 60% of the patients. The toxicity of this regimen was predictable and manageable when established supportive care measures were employed. Based on the response rate observed, the combination of these three agents merits further study in randomized trials against other chemotherapeutic regimens and consideration of its use in adjuvant and preoperative settings.