title: Phase II trial of the combination of carboplatin and irinotecan in elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present phase II study was to assess the antitumour activity and safety of the combination of irinotecan and carboplatin in elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with previously untreated SCLC were eligible if they had a performance status of 0-2, were 70 years or older, and had adequate organ function. Patients were treated with carboplatin at an area under the plasma concentration versus time curve of 5 min/ml on day 1 and with irinotecan at 50mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients (26 men and 4 women; median age, 76 years; age range, 70-86 years) were enrolled. Eight patients had limited disease (LD) and 22 patients had extensive disease (ED). The overall response rate was 83.3% (95% confidence interval: 65.3-94.4%). Response rates did not differ significantly between patients with LD (87.5%) and those with ED (81.8%; p=0.71). The median survival time was 14 months overall and was significantly longer in patients with LD (26 months) than in patients with ED (11 months; p=0.025). The median progression free survival time was 6 months overall and was significantly longer in patients with LD (12 months) than in patients with ED (6 months; p=0.016). Grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia in 83% of patients, thrombocytopenia in 47%, anaemia in 60%, infection in 23%, and diarrhoea in 20%. There were no treatment-related deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This chemotherapy is safe and effective for elderly patients with SCLC.
authors: Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan.
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Murata
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Hirose
authors: Toshimitsu
authors: T
authors: Yamaoka
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Shirai
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Okuda
authors: Tomohide
authors: T
authors: Sugiyama
authors: Sojiro
authors: S
authors: Kusumoto
authors: Masanao
authors: M
authors: Nakashima
authors: Tohru
authors: T
authors: Ohmori
authors: Mitsuru
authors: M
authors: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077146:Irinotecan; D016190:Carboplatin; D002166:Camptothecin