Effect of concomitant use of pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol with radiotherapy on the clinical outcome of patients with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized prospective clinical trial

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) and alpha-tocopherol on the clinical outcome of 66 patients with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer in a randomized clinical trial. All patients received 46 Gy of external radiotherapy to the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, with an additional 14-Gy dose to the primary tumor. Thirty-three of the 66 patients also received PTX (400 mg, three times daily) and alpha-tocopherol (300 mg, twice daily) during radiotherapy, followed by 400 mg of PTX and 300 mg of alpha-tocopherol daily for 3 mo after radiotherapy. The remaining 33 patients (control group) received radiotherapy only. After a mean follow-up time of 12 mo, 18 patients remained alive. During follow-up, there were local recurrences in 14 patients and distant metastases in 18 patients. In patients who received PXT and alpha-tocopherol, 1- and 2-yr overall survival rates were 55% and 30%, respectively, and median survival was 18 mo. In control patients, 1- and 2-yr overall survival rates were 40% and 14%, respectively, with a median survival of 10 mo. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.0175). In patients who received PXT and alpha-tocopherol, progression-free survival rates for 1 and 2 yr were 48% and 23%, respectively; median survival was 12 mo. In the control group, the corresponding rates were 24% and 18%; median survival was 8 mo (p = 0.0223). We conclude that the use of PTX and alpha-tocopherol combined with radiotherapy offers a possible survival advantage in this patient population.