Patients with small-cell lung cancer treated with combination chemotherapy with or without irradiation. Data on potential cures, chronic toxicities, and late relapses after a five- to eleven-year follow-up.
We assessed the outcome in 252 patients with small-cell lung cancer 5 to 11 years after treatment with combination chemotherapy, with or without chest and cranial irradiation, in National Cancer Institute therapeutic trials from 1973 through 1978. Twenty-eight patients (11%) survived free of cancer for 30 months or more. Fourteen patients remain alive without evidence of cancer beyond 5 years (range, 6.4 to 11.3 years), and 7 patients have returned to a lifestyle similar to that before diagnosis. The other 14 patients who were cancer-free at 30 months have developed cancer or died; 6 patients had a relapse, 4 developed or died from non-small-cell lung cancer, and 4 died of unrelated causes. A few patients with small-cell lung cancer (5.6%) may be cured. Thirty-month, cancer-free survival is insufficient to show a cure. Although late toxicities are troublesome, they do not outweigh the benefits of prolonged survival and potential for cure with modern aggressive therapy in small-cell lung cancer.
Johnson
B E
BE
Ihde
D C
DC
Bunn
P A
PA
Becker
B
B
Walsh
T
T
Weinstein
Z R
ZR
Matthews
M J
MJ
Whang-Peng
J
J
Makuch
R W
RW
Johnston-Early
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests