Mitomycin C Etoposide and Vinorelbine (MEV II) in the Treatment of Metastatic Stage IV Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Aims and Background

In a prior study with a new non-cisplatin-based regimen including mytomycin C, etoposide and vindesine (MEV I) we observed a 37% response rate and very low toxicity in stage IV non small cell lung cancer. In an attempt to improve the activity of MEV I we evaluated a new regimen, MEV II, a modification of MEV I in which vinorelbine replaced vindesine.

Methods

21 Patients with metastatic stage IV non small cell lung cancer entered the phase II trial and were treated with the MEV II regimen (mitomycin C 8 mg/m², i.v., d 1, etoposide 100 mg/m², i.v., d 1-3, vinorelbine 30 mg/m², i.v., d 1, every 4 weeks.

Results

We observed a partial response rate of 30% (95% confidence limits 10-50) with a median survival of 6 months. The worst reported toxicity was leukopenia grade 4 in 10% of patients including one who died of sepsis and grade 3 in 20%.

Conclusions

The MEV II regimen showed a similar activity but greater toxicity than MEV I.