Phase II randomized trial of radiotherapy alone vs the sequential use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Phase II trial of chemotherapy alone in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

In order to clarify if the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy offered any advantage over radiotherapy alone in stage III non-small cell lung cancer, 33 patients were randomized between radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, then chemotherapy again. Chemotherapy consisted of a combination of cisplatinum, VP-16 and adriamycin. Twenty-four patients with stage IV disease received the same chemotherapy regimen alone for six cycles. Median survival for stage III patients receiving radiotherapy alone was 5 months. For patients receiving the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy median survival was 11 months (log-rank test, P = 0.025). Median survival for stage IV patient receiving chemotherapy alone was 15 months. It is concluded that the sequential combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is significantly superior to radiotherapy alone in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer.