Combination chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer: Survival differences between histological types and implications for prevention in Thailand

Abstract

Lung cancer is now a major public health problem in Thailand. This study was undertaken to gain some preliminary data regarding the potential effectiveness in treating advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) using an ifosfamide combination therapy IA(E)P. A clinical study was made of all 50 patients (Thais) with histologically proven, advanced NSCLC admitted to the University of Siriraj Hospital between 1985 and 1987 and followed up until February 1992. Survival was calculated for responders and non-responders as distinct groups, and for the different histological tumors among the responders. There were 22 cases of adenocarcinoma, 13 large cell carcinoma, and 15 squamous cell carcinoma. Twenty-seven out of 50 (54%) responded to treatment. The median survival of the response group was 17 months, compared with 5.5 months in the non-response group. The longest survival 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 controlled clinical trials to more fully determine the efficacy of IA(E)P in treating NSCLC.