ABSTRACT
The effects of different chemotherapy protocols on survival were evaluated in 197 small cell lung cancer patients followed-up between 1974 and 1987 in our unit. Of these, 170 patients had Stage IV disease and 24 had Stage III disease. Thoracic radiotherapy was given to 73 patients of whom 63 had Stage IV disease. Cytotoxic chemotherapy was given in four main protocols consisting of cyclophosphamide (CYC): CYC + vincristine (VCR); CYC + VCR + adriamycin (ADM) and CYC + VCR + ADM + lomustine (CCNU). The latter protocol was associated with the highest survival rates and differed significantly (p less than 0.05) from the others. In patients with extensive disease, both radiotherapy to the primary site and adjuvant immunomodulation in conjunction with the above chemotherapy regimens lacked any beneficial effect on survival.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Small Cell/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Small Cell/radiotherapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage , Doxorubicin/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Lomustine/administration & dosage , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Vincristine/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The effect on long-term survival of immunomodulation adjuvant to various cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was evaluated in 669 patients followed up between 1974 and 1987. Four hundred seventeen patients were treated only by cytotoxic chemotherapy and served as controls. Two hundred fifty-two patients received warfarin (W), levamisole (L) and tranexamic acid (T) for adjuvant immunomodulation. These drugs, especially when given in combination (W + L + T), led to a significant (p less than 0.05) enhancement of survival in patients with advanced NSCLC, independent of the cytotoxic regimen used.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Levamisole/therapeutic use , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Tranexamic Acid/therapeutic use , Warfarin/therapeutic useABSTRACT
198 patients with colorectal carcinoma were given chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was applied to 73 patients, postoperatively, with Dukes A, B, C disease. 125 patients were Dukes D. The four different chemotherapy regimens comprised fluorouracil (5-FU) alone, 5-FU plus levamisole, 5-FU plus mitomycin-C and 5-FU plus adriamycin. Median survival was 18 months in the adjuvant group, with 67%, 30% and 19% of patients alive at the end of 1st, 2nd and 3rd years. 5-FU plus adriamycin and 5-FU plus levamisole give better survival rates. Median survival was 7 months in the metastatic group and only 23% are alive at the end of the first year. Favorable results were observed only with 5-FU plus adriamycin. Even though chemotherapy seems to be of limited value in advanced colorectal cancer, survival and life quality improve when it is given on an adjuvant basis.