EVALUATION OF RESULTS IN LOCALLY ADVANCED NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER, COMBINATION OF DAILY LOW DOSE CISPLATIN AND ACCELERATED CONCOMITANT BOOST RADIOTHERAPY

A prospective phase II trial, using combination of cisplatin as a radiosensitizer and accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy was started by Institute of Oncology, İstanbul University, in December 1994; on patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. "Large" field was irradiated 5 days a week and followed after at least 6 hours, two times weekly to reduced "boost" field, given from the beginning of the therapy. Cisplatin was administered 6 mg per square meter, given daily 1 hour before each "large" field irradiation by 1 hour infusion. In January 1997, a small group of 15 patients were evaluated. An overall acute toxicity rate was 38%. It was considered that early and increased skin reactions may be due to radiosensitizer effect of cisplatin. Toxicity of esophagus was acceptable. Grade 4 toxicity was not seen in any patient. Cisplatin induced nausea and vomiting were seen of 80%, but could be treated with antiemetics. Complete response rate, observed radiologically was achieved by 40%, and median survivial was 16 months. It was thought that this combined modality treatment schedule could be feasible, acute toxicity could be well tolerated and a better complete response rate could be obtained.