Recent advances in the treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma

In approximately 80% of the patients with limited disease, the administration of treatment, either chemotherapy alone or in combination with radiation therapy, will result in complete remission (CR). The CR, which is closely related to the potential for long term survival, is more difficult to achieve in patients with extensive disease. For that unfavourable group of patients, the CR rates are still in the range of 20 to 30% and, not surprisingly, the median survival approximates 7 to 8 months. We have investigated a new combination chemotherapy: CAV which might be a non-cross resistant combination with regimens known to be highly effective. Squamous Cell Carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, Cyclophosphamide, nitrosoureas, methotrexate, and adriamycin, alone or in combination, produce tumor regression in 20-25% of these cancers usually resistant to chemotherapy. The activity of cis-platin in association with etoposide represents a highly effective therapy in these diseases (31% in disseminate disease, 56% in untreated patients with locoregional disease).SCOPUS: NotDefined.j