Combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in limited small cell lung carcinoma: results of alternating schedule in 109 patients.
One hundred nine patients with limited small cell lung carcinoma were entered in a phase II study of treatment consisting of alternating 6 cycles of combination chemotherapy and 3 courses of mediastinal radiotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of 40 mg doxorubicin/m2 on day 1; 75 mg etoposide/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3; 300 mg cyclophosphamide/m2 on days 3, 4, 5, and 6; and 400 mg methotrexate/m2 on day 2 (plus folinic acid rescue) or 100 mg cisplatin/m2 on day 2. The total mediastinal radiation dose was 45 or 55 Gy. A 6- to 8-cycle maintenance chemotherapy followed this induction protocol. The complete remission rate at the end of the induction therapy was 79%. The local recurrence rate was 25%, and the distant metastases rate was 52%. Median survival is 17.2 +/- 1.2 months and survival rate at 3 years is 26%. Lethal toxicity occurred in 3% of the patients, and long-term survivors are being evaluated. Our results justify further investigations with this alternating schedule.
Le Chevalier
T
T
Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Arriagada
R
R
de Thé
H
H
De Cremoux
H
H
Martin
M
M
Baldeyrou
P
P
Ruffié
P
P
Benna
F
F
Cerrina
M L
ML
Sancho-Garnier
H
H
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage