Weekly dose-intensive chemotherapy in patients with small-cell lung cancer: a pilot study.
The study was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of dose-intensive chemotherapy given on a weekly basis for 12 weeks. Seventeen [7 with limited disease (LD) and 10 with extensive disease (ED)] previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with the cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CODE) regimen. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was given to eight patients for the purpose of increasing the dose intensity. Overall response rate was 88%, with a 29% complete response. The median survival times were greater than 20.5 months for LD patients and 8.1 months for ED patients. Overall actual dose intensity was 88% of planned protocol. The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Fifteen patients (88%) had grade 3 or 4 leukopenia. Other problems were weight loss and worsening of performance status during the treatment. RhG-CSF significantly reduced leukopenic nadirs and shortened the neutropenic period. Our preliminary results indicate that 12 cycles of the CODE regimen on a weekly schedule is effective for SCLC, but is also associated with significant toxicity.
Kudoh
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital, Japan.
Fukuoka
M
M
Negoro
S
S
Tanaka
H
H
Kusunoki
Y
Y
Matsui
K
K
Masuda
N
N
Takifugi
N
N
Itoh
K
K
Nishioka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin