Background: The combination of chemotherapy and thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) is considered as a standard treatment for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although the frequent interaction of anticancer agents and irradiation may produce stronger radio-sensitizing effects, the daily administration of these agents is complicated. We therefore used weekly administration of these agents, and conducted a phase I study of weekly cisplatin, vinorelbine, and concurrent TRT. The purpose of this study was to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and the recommended dose of this treatment.
Methods: Patients with locally advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. Both cisplatin and vinorelbine were given intravenously on a weekly schedule for 6 weeks, starting on the first day of TRT, i.e., on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36. The total dose of TRT was 60 Gy. The dose of cisplatin was fixed at 20 mg/m(2) per week. The starting dose of vinorelbine was 15 mg/m(2) per week (dose level 1).
Results: Nine patients were enrolled in this study. All three patients at dose level 1 experienced DLTs. We decreased the dose of vinorelbine to 10 mg/m(2) per week (dose level 0). Two of the six patients at dose level 0 experienced DLTs. Therefore, dose level 1 was considered as the MTD, and dose level 0 as the recommended dose. The DLTs of this treatment were esophagitis, fatigue, infection, and hyponatremia.
Conclusion: The recommended dose of cisplatin is 20 mg/m(2) per week and that of vinorelbine is 10 mg/m(2) per week with standard TRT. A phase II study of this treatment is warranted.