title: Efficacy of rechallenge chemotherapy in patients with sensitive relapsed small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of rechallenge with current induction regimens for sensitive-relapse small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We defined sensitive relapse as treatment-free interval (TFI≥90 d). Sensitive-relapse SCLC patients who received second-line chemotherapy were separated into those treated with rechallenge chemotherapy (rechallenge group) and those treated with other regimens (other group). The endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five patients (19 rechallenge group and 46 other group) were assessable for efficacy and safety evaluation. No significant differences in age, sex, ECOG performance status at relapse, disease extent at diagnosis, or response to first-line treatment were found between the 2 groups, but TFI was significantly longer in the rechallenge group. Twenty-one patients of the other group received amrubicin. There was no significant difference in OS between the 2 groups (median survival time [MST]: rechallenge group, 14.4 mo; other group, 13.1 mo; P=0.51). In the patients treated with amrubicin, MST was 12.6 months. Comparing the rechallenge group with the patients treated with amrubicin, there was also no significant difference in OS (P=0.38). Both the rechallenge and other group included 11 patients with ex-sensitive relapse (TFI≥180 d). There was no significant difference in OS between the 2 groups (MST 15.7 vs. 26.9 mo, P=0.46).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rechallenge chemotherapy did not prove superior to other chemotherapies, suggesting that monotherapy, such as amrubicin, might be reasonable as second-line chemotherapy for sensitive-relapse SCLC patients.
authors: Divisions of *Thoracic Oncology †Diagnostic Radiology ‡Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Nagaizumi-cho, Suntou-gun, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Kazushige
authors: K
authors: Wakuda
authors: Hirotsugu
authors: H
authors: Kenmotsu
authors: Tateaki
authors: T
authors: Naito
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Akamatsu
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Ono
authors: Takehito
authors: T
authors: Shukuya
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Nakamura
authors: Asuka
authors: A
authors: Tsuya
authors: Haruyasu
authors: H
authors: Murakami
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Takahashi
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Endo
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Nakajima
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D019772:Topotecan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005047:Etoposide; D000077146:Irinotecan; D019772:Topotecan; C055866:amrubicin; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin