First-line chemotherapy rechallenge after relapse in small cell lung cancer.
Response to second-line therapy in relapsing patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is often claimed to be evidence in favour of non-cross resistance. Fifteen patients with SCLC who had relapsed off treatment after responding to initial first-line chemotherapy were retreated with the same regimen at relapse. Ten (67%) achieved a further partial response. Median response duration was only 3 months (range 2-4 months), but similar poor results have been reported for most studies using second-line chemotherapy. Relapse in SCLC does not necessarily imply complete clinical resistance to first-line chemotherapy, and strict clinical criteria are required to demonstrate true non-cross resistance.
Vincent
M
M
Lung Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Evans
B
B
Smith
I
I
D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors