title: Cyclophosphamide and etoposide for non-small cell and small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Oral chemotherapeutic regimens with limited toxicity are desirable in that quality of life can be maintained and clinic/hospital visits minimised during therapy. We have investigated the use of extended courses of oral cyclophosphamide and oral etoposide for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). A 14-day course of oral combination chemotherapy every 28 days resulted in a 12% response rate and a median survival of 6 months (1-year survival, 26%) in stage IV NSCLC. This regimen could not be intensified with carboplatin because of synergistic granulocytopenia. A 14-day course every 28 days resulted in a 40% response rate and a median survival of 7 months in poor-prognosis extensive-disease SCLC. Pharmacodynamic modelling revealed that the granulocyte nadir could be predicted from a single plasma etoposide level drawn on the second day of therapy, potentially allowing dose adjustment during the treatment cycle. Oral chemotherapy remains a promising route for the treatment of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology Unit, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grunberg
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide