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Combination chemotherapy with and without the methanol‐extracted residue of bacillus calmette‐guerin (MER) in extensive non‐small‐cell lung cancer: A prospective randomized study for the piedmont oncology association
Author(s) -
Richards Frederick,
Howard Virginia,
Shore Anita,
Muss Hyman B.,
White Douglas R.,
Jackson Don V.,
Cooper M. Robert,
Bearden James,
Stuart John J.,
Sartiano George,
Rhyne A. L.,
Spurr Charles L.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19810615)47:12<2827::aid-cncr2820471212>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - medicine , lung cancer , chemotherapy , cancer , prospective cohort study , adenocarcinoma , oncology , surgery , epidermoid carcinoma , gastroenterology
One‐hundred‐three patients with extensive non‐small‐cell lung cancer were entered into a prospective, randomized trial to determine the value of MER as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Patients were stratified according to histology and performance status. All patients received CCNU, methotrexate, and Adriamycin with 48 patients also receiving MER. All patients had a performance status of 2 or less (<50% bedridden), 49% had prior radiation therapy, only one patient had prior chemotherapy, and all had extensive disease. Of the patients, 42% had epidermoid cancer, 21% had large cell cancer, 32% had adenocarcinoma, and 4% had mixed adenosquamous or undifferentiated carcinoma. The response rates and response durations of the two treatment regimens were similar. Of the patients, 18% had an objective response; in 4% it was complete. An additional 29% had a stable response. Median duration of response ranged from 21 to 23 weeks. Median survival rates for non‐MER and MER treatment groups were 21.5 and 18.6 weeks, respectively. The four complete responders have a survival of 24, 85, 86+, and 129 weeks. MER did not improve response or hematopoietic tolerance, was associated with significant morbidity, and was poorly tolerated. The value of immunotherapy in lung cancer remains to be established.