title: A phase II study of biweekly irinotecan and cisplatin for patients with extensive stage disease small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An irinotecan and cisplatin (IP) combination is one of active regimen used in treatment of extensive stage disease (ED) small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, a 4-week cycle of irinotecan treatment can result in significant myelosuppression and diarrhea. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biweekly IP in patients with ED SCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with previously untreated ED SCLC received intravenous irinotecan at a dose of 60mg/m(2) and cisplatin at a dose of 30mg/m(2) on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Three complete responses and 23 partial responses were confirmed, giving an overall response rate of 74.3%. After a median follow-up of 15.1 months, the median time to progression and overall survival were 7.7 months and 12.2 months, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in seven patients and grade 3 febrile neutropenia was observed in one patient. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination chemotherapy of biweekly IP was found to be well tolerated and effective in patients with ED SCLC. Further evaluation of the combination of IP at the dose and schedule in this study is warranted in ED SCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Hematology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Hun Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.forename: Young Rok
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Hong Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ki Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Min Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Won Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Kyong
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Keon Uk
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin