title: Irinotecan as a second-line monotherapy for small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of irinotecan monotherapy as a second-line treatment for small cell lung cancers (SCLCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Irinotecan monotherapy was administered to 46 SCLC patients who were previously undergone cisplatin based chemotherapy protocols. Response to treatment, time to progression (TTP), overall survival rates and adverse events associated with irinotecan monotherapy (300mg/m2; total 153 cycles; mean 3.78 ∓ 1.98) were determined, retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Limited stage disease was diagnosed in 19.6% of patients (n=9) while 80.4% (n=37) were diagnosed with extensive stage cancer preceeding the irinotecan monotherapy. None of the patients had complete response to irinotecan. Partial response and stable disease were achieved among 17.5% of patients. Mean time to tumor progression (TTP) was determined to be 11.3±5.94 weeks while overall survival was 13.3±6.83 months. Considering adverse events, grade 3 and 4 toxicity was encountered in 8.9% and 4.5% of patients, respectively. Irinotecan monotherapy in brain metastasized tumors was found to be associated with significantly higher survival times compared with tumors lacking brain metastasis (15.0±5.95 vs 10.7±4.82 months; p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irinotecan as a monotherapy in the second-line treatment of SCLC seems to have an acceptable level of toxicity and significant palliative effects. The prominent survival step-up effect particularly in brain metastasis patients appears worthy of note.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Medical Faculty, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sevinc
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kalender
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altinbas
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dikilitas
authors.forename: Celalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camci
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin