Treatment of brain metastases of lung cancer with high doses of etoposide (VP16-213). Cooperative study from the Groupe Franais Pneumo-Cancérologie

To study the efficacy of etoposide in brain metastases of lung carcinoma, etoposide was given during 3 consecutive days. The total dose of 1500 mg/m2 was divided into six 1 h perfusions delivered over 3 days to 19 patients having squamous (7), large cell (3), small cell (5) or adenocarcinoma (4). Response to chemotherapy was assessed by means of computerized tomography (CT) before and 15-30 days after the last course of chemotherapy (course interval = 28 days, maximum of four courses). Severe myelotoxicity was observed in nine patients with seven patient deaths resulting from infection. Efficacy could be evaluated in 13 patients. Failure was observed in seven cases. An objective response was observed in six patients (4/14 NSCLC and 2/5 SCLC), two patients having a complete regression. Average survival time was 10 weeks.