title: Combination chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung: evaluation of four-drug combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and procarbazine.
abstract: Forty-one patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with a four-drug combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and procarbazine. The response rate was 68% (28 responded among 41 patients), with 10 complete responses (24%) and 18 partial responses (44%). The median survival time from the initiation of chemotherapy was 11 months for patients with limited disease and 8 months for those with extensive disease. Patients who achieved complete response survived significantly longer than those who did not; the median survival time for complete responders was 14.5 months, compared to 8.5 months for partial responders and 6 months for non-responders. Myelosuppressive toxicity remained within acceptable limits, with 5% incidence of leukocytopenia (less than 1,000/microliter) and 7% incidence of thrombocytopenia (less than 50,000/microliter) following the first course of the regimen.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011344:Procarbazine; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate