Carboplatin (CBDCA) plus alpha interferon in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. A Hoosier Oncology Group phase II trial

Am J Clin Oncol. 1993 Dec;16(6):519-21. doi: 10.1097/00000421-199312000-00012.

Abstract

Interferons have been shown to increase in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum compounds. The Hoosier Oncology Group has conducted a Phase II clinical trial to determine if interferon alpha-2a (IFN-alpha-2a) given in combination with carboplatin (CBDCA) can increase response rates or survival in patients with metastatic or recurrent inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer. Forty-four patients with no prior chemotherapy and high KPS (80-100) were enrolled. CBDCA 400 mg/m2 was given intravenously on day 1 and IFN-alpha-2a 9 million units was given subcutaneously on days 1, 3, and 5. Treatment was administered every 4 weeks until onset of progressive disease or to a maximum of 4 courses: 37 patients (84%) received at least 2 courses, whereas only 16 (36%) received the full 4 courses. Dose-limiting toxicities were leukopenia (27%) and thrombocytopenia (20%) attributable to CBDCA. Grade 2-3 anemia occurred in 32%. Only 4-7% of patients experienced severe fever, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms attributable to interferon administration. Of 41 patients evaluable for response, there were no complete responses and only 3 (7.3%) partial remissions. The overall median survival was 6 months. The combination of CBDCA and IFN-alpha-2a given in this dose and schedule does not appear to have superior activity compared to CBDCA alone in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Carboplatin / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Carboplatin