BACON (bleomycin, adriamycin, CCNU, oncovin and nitrogen mustard) in squamous lung cancer. Experience in fifty patients

Abstract

Fifty patients with inoperable squamous carcinoma of the lung. 38 with extensive, and 12 with limited disease, were treated with BACON. Tumor regression greater than 50% was observed in 17 patients (45%) with extensive, and four patients (33%) with limited disease. Stabilization of disease for greater than or equal to 8 weeks was seen in four extensive and eight limited patients, and had the same prognostic importance with regard to survival as response: in extensive disease, responding and stable patients had median survival (MST) of 26 weeks from start of therapy, while MST for non-responders was 9 weeks. MST in limited disease (all patients responding or stable) was 32 weeks. Analysis of survival in extensive disease by performance status showed improvement in each category over historical control results for supportive care alone. BACON was better tolerated and probably more effective when CCNU was given every 8 weeks, rather than every 4 weeks.