Large number of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), poor prognosis and controversies on the effectiveness of chemotherapy in advanced cases made us analyse our experiences in that matter. The results of paliative chemotherapy in 110 inoperable, and disqualified from radiotherapy NSCLC patients (stage III B, IV) received 2-6 courses of chemotherapy by Le Chevalier (Vincristin, Cyclophosphamide, Lomustine, Cisplatin) or by Rosell (Mitimycin, Ifosfamide, Cisplatin). Control group consisted of 20 persons with advanced NSCLC, who received paliative radiotherapy. The effectiveness of therapy was established on the basis of survival time, number and quality of remissions and performance status. It was established, that effectiveness of treatment depended upon the tolerance of chemotherapy. The more courses of chemotherapy the more remissions, and longer time of survival. The mean time of survival in symptomatically treated patients was 3 months, whereas in chemotherapy group - 11.8 months. In chemotherapy group, the remissions in 82% of patients were obtained, among them 22% complete tumour regressions. Mean time of survival was: 16.1 months in CR, 11.2 months in PR and 5.1 month in patients without answer to treatment. The obtained remissions allowed to resect the tumour in 12% of patients and to apply radiotherapy in about 50%;. In significant part of patients, after chemotherapy the improvement of performance status was seen. The obtained results of treatment are comparable with others in Europe and the USA.

Keywords: palliative chemotherapy, therapy, lung cancer