Treatment of relapse of small cell lung cancer in selected patients with the initial combination chemotherapy carboplatin, etoposide, and epirubicin.
BACKGROUND
Relapse of small cell lung cancer is not usually treated with further chemotherapy as results are considered to be disappointing.


RESULTS
Six patients with relapse of small cell lung cancer after a complete initial response and remission of more than one year responded to repeat treatment with the initial chemotherapy comprising carboplatin, etoposide, and epirubicin. The second remission ranged from six months to more than 15 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with a relapse of small cell lung cancer after a complete initial response and prolonged remission retreatment with the initial combination chemotherapy cannot be dismissed and requires further study.
Collard
P
P
Pulmonary Division, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
Weynants
P
P
Francis
C
C
Rodenstein
D O
DO
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin