Vincristine and etoposide: an effective chemotherapy regimen with reduced toxicity in extensive small-cell lung cancer.
Chemotherapy prolongs survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer, but very few are cured, and the treatment is unpleasant. Thirty patients, 28 with advanced disease, were treated with etoposide 250 mg/m2 orally, daily for 5 days, plus vincristine 2 mg intravenously on the first day, the cycle being repeated 3-weekly, to a maximum of 6. There was a response rate of 70%, a median survival of 249 days, and an 11% 2-year survival. Symptomatic side-effects were less pronounced than with most other regimens of comparable efficacy.
Morgan
D A
DA
Hogarth Centre of Radiotherapy and Oncology, General Hospital, Nottingham, England.
Gilson
D
D
Fletcher
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide