[Effects of biochemical modulation chemotherapy with CDDP and 5-FU on metastatic brain tumor from lung cancer].

Fourteen cases of metastatic brain tumors from lung cancer underwent biochemical modulation chemotherapy with daily administration of small doses of CDDP (5 or 10 mg/day) and continuous infusion of 5-FU (300 mg/day) for three tow six weeks. All patients with metastatic brain tumors also underwent a total of 30 Gy of whole brain irradiation therapy. Of eleven patients who had metastatic brain tumors when chemotherapy started, complete and partial responses were shown in two patients each (36% response rate). Moreover, only four of twelve patients with extracranial lesions responded (33% response rate). Abnormal levels of tumor marker were improved in only three of 10 evaluable patients (30% response rate). Side effects of this chemotherapy included various WHO grades of bone marrow suppression as well as nausea and vomiting in 13 of 14 patients. Loss of appetite persisted for two months. Parkinsonism was also noted in three patients as an additional side effect. Mean survival time was 9.4 months, while 4 patients survived longer than one year. Data showing a low response rate, persistent loss of appetite and longer admission period were considered less favorable than those of other chemotherapeutic regimens.