title: Small-cell carcinoma of the lung: therapeutic management.
abstract: Although bronchogenic carcinoma generally remains a tumor resistant to treatment, marked progress in the therapy of the small-cell undifferentiated subtype has occurred in the past 5 years. Many aspects of its growth and metastatic spread are such that it is not satisfactorily treated surgically. However, it is sensitive to both radiation and a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Use of these agents in combination seems to produce a greater antitumor effect than single drugs. The combination of radiation and chemotherapy results in marked tumor regressions. Untreated, this carcinoma has a very short median survival (2 months). Administration of current "aggressive" combination therapy regimens has resulted in median survivals of nearly 1 year with some patients still living 3 years after therapy.
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006585:Altretamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D011344:Procarbazine; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D006585:Altretamine; D008727:Methotrexate