title: Etoposide, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and vincristine in previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: The efficacy and toxicity of 120 mg/m2 etoposide and 100 mg/m2 carboplatin given i.v. daily x 3 together with 750 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide and 1.4 mg/m2 vincristine given i.v. on day 1 (ECCO) in a regimen given every 28 days for 6 courses was assessed in 90 (40 limited stage, 50 extensive stage) previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer. Mediastinal irradiation using 50 Gy in 25 fractions was given to limited-stage patients without progression after 3 courses of chemotherapy. Cranial irradiation with 30 Gy in 10 fractions was given to all patients attaining a complete response (CR). Objective responses were seen in 83% [CR, 60%; partial response (PR), 23%] of patients with limited and 76% (CR, 22%; PR, 54%) of those with extensive disease. The median relapse-free survival for objective responders with limited disease was 13.4 months, with a median of 8.0 months for extensive-stage patients. The median relapse-free survival for patients achieving a CR was 13.4 months, with a median of 7.8 months for those undergoing a PR. The median survival was 13.3 months for patients with limited disease, with a median of 9.6 months for those with extensive disease. The median survival following a CR was 18.2 months, with a median survival of 9.9 months for those showing a PR. The combination was well tolerated, with either no nausea or nausea only (WHO grade 0 or 1) in 56% of patients and minimal mucositis, renal toxicity, neurotoxicity or ototoxicity. Neutropenia measuring less than 1.0 x 10(9) WBC/l (WHO grade 3 or 4) was seen in 74% of patients, with two deaths due to infection occurring during neutropenia. Thrombocytopenia of less than 50 x 10(9) platelets/l (WHO grade 3 or 4) occurred in 24% of patients. ECCO is a new, active, well-tolerated program for previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kefford
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zalcberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stuart-Harris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Olver
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin