title: Retreatment of patients surviving cancer-free 2 or more years after initial treatment of small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome after retreatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who redevelop small cell cancer (SCC) 2 or more years after initial therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single government institution: the National Cancer Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients who redeveloped SCC among 65 patients who survived 2 or more years after starting treatment for their initial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The response rate of patients after retreatment, the survival duration from the time of redevelopment of SCC, and the toxicities of retreatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients redeveloped SCC: 18 with a relapse and 2 with a second primary cancer. Sixteen received treatment after they redeveloped SCLC while four did not. Eleven patients were retreated with chemotherapy alone, two patients received chemotherapy plus chest radiotherapy, one patient received radiotherapy alone, one patient underwent lobectomy, and one patient was treated with a monoclonal antibody followed by chemotherapy. Nine of 16 patients (56%) treated after they redeveloped SCLC had an objective response (3 complete and 6 partial). The median survival of all 20 patients after they redeveloped SCC was 3.9 months (range, 0 to 46 months). The median survival of the patients who were retreated was 6.5 months (range, 1 to 46 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who suffer relapses with SCLC 2 or more years from diagnosis are candidates for retreatment.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Navy Medical Oncology Branch, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda MD 20889-5105, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chute
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Venzon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors