title: Hemibody radiation, an active therapeutic modality for the management of patients with small cell lung cancer.
abstract: In a previously published paper, the results of a preliminary clinical trial comparing systemic radiation (upper and lower hemibody technique) versus systemic chemotherapy in the management of all stages of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), suggested that hemibody radiation (HBI) was as efficient as systemic chemotherapy, particularly for patients with early disease. We are now presenting the final results of the above trial. The two year survival has shown that as many patients in the HBI as in the chemotherapy arm have reached this endpoint. However, there is a difference in favor of chemotherapy on both the median and one year survival for those patients with advanced stages. Therefore, as of June 1981, we have initiated a study incorporating HBI as a consolidating-maintenance agent for patients with all stages of the disease who have received a 3 1/2 months induction systemic chemotherapy plus local chest irradiation. Up to date, 65 patients have been entered and our median survival for those who received the complete treatment is 62.5 weeks.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008130:Lomustine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate