Carboplatin for small cell lung cancer: progress toward greater efficacy and reduced toxicity.
Small cell lung cancer, an aggressive malignancy characterized by early dissemination, is highly responsive to radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Since the introduction of combined-modality regimens that incorporate both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median survival time for patients with localized disease has increased to 12 to 15 months, but median length of survival of patients with extensive disease has remained at a plateau of only 6 to 8 months. New cytotoxic agents, such as ifosfamide, etoposide, and carboplatin, have contributed to a reduced toxicity profile and an increase in complete response rates to combination regimens of 40% to 50%, but they have not contributed to any major increase in long-term survival. Potential strategies for improving efficacy and reducing toxicity of the chemotherapy of small cell lung cancer are reviewed.
Raghavan
D
D
Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263.
Perez
R
R
Creaven
P
P
Takita
H
H
Loewen
G
G
Vaickus
L
L
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
D017671:Platinum Compounds; D016190:Carboplatin