title: Second-line chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The literature on second-line chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for the period 1979-1989 is reviewed. The reports consisted mainly of Phase II type studies and comprised a total of 987 patients with relatively few patients per study. The information was frequently incomplete with regard to duration of response on first-line chemotherapy, length of any drug-free interval and duration of response on second-line chemotherapy. The overall second-line response rate was 30%, but only 5% were complete responses (CR). The response rates obtained by the combination of cisplatinum (P) and VP-16 (E) or reinduction therapy were 45% and 64% (medians), respectively. These rates were superior to regimens consisting of supposedly non-cross-resistant agents. With P and E not given in combination, the response rates were less than 20%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kristjansen
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin