In an effort to investigate a regimen less toxic and more convenient than cisplatin combinations, 50 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated in a Phase II study with carboplatin and vindesine. Carboplatin 300 mg/m2 every 28 days and vindesine 3 mg/m2 every 2 weeks were administered on an outpatient basis. Eight patients had a partial response of their disease (16%, confidence limits 7-29%). Mean duration of response was 4.5+ months (1 +/- 8). Toxicity, mainly of grade I-II, was noticed in 4-28% of the patients. The most common side effect was mild to moderate leukopenia (28%). The combination of carboplatin and vindesine at the above doses was very well tolerated. Although the response rate was relatively low, the survival in this patient population was similar to other cisplatin-containing regimens.