A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF MACC CHEMOTHERAPY WITH OR WITHOUT LONIDAMINE IN ADVANCED NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

Combination chemotherapy with anti-proliferative agents is the usual treatment for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), good performance status and no major clinical contraindications. Lonidamine (LND), a new drug with an innovative mechanism of action, might potentiate anti-cancer activity of conventional cytotoxic drugs, with no increase of specific toxicity. Following a pilot study of feasibility, we now report the results of a randomised trial evaluating MACC chemotherapy, as originally described, versus the same regimen + LND. 151 patients with advanced NSCLC were assigned at random to the two treatment arms. LND 150 mg was given orally three times daily. Treatment was continued until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity or refusal by the patient (median number of cycles of MACC, three for both arms; median duration of LND administration, 8 weeks in the arm concerned). Actual dose intensities (DI) of MACC and LND were, respectively, 100 and 83% of those intended (median values). There was a negative correlation between duration of chemotherapy and the DI of MACC reached in each patient, but no correlation between the duration of treatment with LND and its DI. DIs of LND and MACC were not correlated with each other. In all, 15 objective responses (one complete and four partial responses in the MACC group, 10 partial responses in patients on MACC + LND) were observed. Median progression-free survivals were 20 weeks (confidence interval, CI 14-22) for the group on LND and 17 weeks (CI 12-17) for the control group (non-significant difference). Median overall survivals were, respectively, 30 weeks (CI 23-40) and 27 weeks (CI 22-34), P = non-significant. Toxicity was as expected by the use of MACC, and similar in both arms, except for more severe anaemia and gastric toxicity in the group on MACC + LND. Other uncommon side-effects, seen only in this latter group, were mild to moderate and reversible and included myalgia, asthenia, testicle pain, headache, visual troubles, incubi and dizziness. Subjective tolerance to the treatment, and perception of physical and psychological well-being were rated similarly by patients of both groups. MACC plus LND is a moderately active regimen in advanced NSCLC, with a foreseeable and reversible toxicity of low-medium grade. Potential enhancements of anti-tumour efficacy of chemotherapy, and possible host survival benefits derived from the use of LND are not substantiated by the results of this trial.