Alternating chemotherapy with etoposide plus cisplatin and topotecan plus paclitaxel in patients with untreated, extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma: a phase II trial of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to test the response rate and toxicity of alternating chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).


METHODS
Patients with histologically proven, extensive-stage SCLC, with a performance status of 0-2, and who had received no prior chemotherapy were eligible. The design was a two-stage, Phase II, multicenter trial. Treatment consisted of alternating chemotherapy every 3 weeks with etoposide (100 mg/m(2) on Days 1-3) and cisplatin (30 mg/m(2) on Days 1-3) on Cycles 1, 3, 5 and with topotecan (1 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2) on Day 5) on Cycles 2, 4, and 6. Filgrastim support was given with Cycles 2, 4, 6.


RESULTS
Forty-four patients were eligible and evaluable. The primary toxicity was myelosuppression. The median absolute neutrophil count was 300/microL with 70% Grade 4 neutropenia. The median platelet count was 58,000/microL with 23% Grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities occurred in 16% of patients. Overall toxicities were not different between the two regimens. There were no treatment-related deaths. Complete or partial responses occurred in 34 patients (77%). The median time to progression was 6.9 months, with a median survival of 10.5 months and with 1-year and 2-year survival rates of 37% and 12%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The regimen of alternating chemotherapy was associated with substantial myelosuppression and resulted in a high response rate and good overall survival. The results were similar to those reported in prior trials and did not suggest any improvement in therapy for patients with SCLC.
Jett
James R
JR
Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. jett.james@mayo.edu
Hatfield
Alan K
AK
Hillman
Shauna
S
Bauman
Michael D
MD
Mailliard
James A
JA
Kugler
John W
JW
Morton
Roscoe F
RF
Marks
Randolph S
RS
Levitt
Ralph
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007196:Indiana; D007484:Iowa; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009329:Nebraska; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009658:North Dakota; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013023:South Dakota; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005047:Etoposide; D019772:Topotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin