title: Combination chemotherapy with carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine as first-line treatment in small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The antineoplastic activity of carboplatin and etoposide may be improved by the addition of vincristine (CEV) because of its low myelosuppressive potential and its activity in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). A phase II study with CEV was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-one untreated patients with SCLC (63 with limited disease [LD], 58 with extensive disease [ED]) were treated with a combination of 300 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) on day 1, etoposide 140 mg/m2 IV daily on days 1 to 3, and vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 90% rate overall response rate including 56% complete responses (CRs) was achieved in LD and an 83% overall response rate including 35% CRs was observed in ED. Median survival time was 13 months in limited disease and 9.5 months in extensive disease. The 24 and 36 months survival rates were 29% in LD and 9% in ED. Myelosuppression was the main form of toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of CEV is a new active and well-tolerated regimen in the treatment of SCLC. Prospective randomized studies of CEV with conventional chemotherapy are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Grosshansdorf Hospital, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gatzemeier
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hossfeld
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neuhauss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Achterrath
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lenaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin