title: Sequential chemotherapy in good-prognosis patients with small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: A sequential combination chemotherapy regimen was evaluated in 23 patients with small-cell lung cancer (16, limited disease; 7, extensive disease). All patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, normal serum sodium and albumin levels and alkaline phosphatase values of less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal. Treatment comprised ifosfamide and either vindesine or vincristine given on weeks 0, 2 and 4; cisplatin and etoposide given on weeks 6, 9 and 12; and doxorubicin and methotrexate given on weeks 15 and 17. The overall response rate at the end of chemotherapy was 91% and the complete response rate was 43%. Treatment was generally well tolerated and the delivered dose intensity was 83% of that projected. Median survival was 54 weeks, with 4 patients (17%) being alive 2 years after the completion of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Twelves
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Souhami
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Spiro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine; D007069:Ifosfamide; D008727:Methotrexate