Standard versus alternating non-cross-resistant chemotherapy in extensive small cell lung cancer: an EORTC Phase III trial.
Alternating chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer has been tested in several studies. Some have shown positive results that have not been confirmed in other studies. In all of the studies, however, the degree of non-cross-resistance in the regimens was questionable. The EORTC Lung Cancer Study Group developed two equipotent regimens: (i) standard (CDE)-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide; (ii) (VIMP)-vincristine, carboplatin, ifosfamide, mesna, both non-cross-resistance. These two combinations were alternated and compared with the standard chemotherapy regimen in a group of 143 patients with extensive small cell lung cancer. Median survival was 7.6 months in the standard arm and 8.7 in the alternating arm (P = 0.243). Median time to progression was 5.8 and 6.4 months, respectively (P = 0.166). Median response duration was 7.0 and 6.8 months (P = 0.221). The use of two alternating regimens with a proven degree of non-cross-resistance did not result in any improvement in survival in patients with extensive small cell lung cancer.
Postmus
P E
PE
Department of Pulmonology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Scagliotti
G
G
Groen
H J
HJ
Gozzelino
F
F
Burghouts
J T
JT
Curran
D
D
Sahmoud
T
T
Kirkpatrick
A
A
Giaccone
G
G
Splinter
T A
TA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin; D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide