title: Etoposide-cisplatin alternating with vinorelbine-cisplatin versus etoposide-cisplatin alone in patients with extensive disease combined with small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of alternating etoposide-cisplatin and vinorelbine-cisplatin (EP-NP) compared with an etoposide-cisplatin (EP) regimen for advanced combined small cell carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologically confirmed combined small cell carcinoma patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned (1:1) into either the EP-NP setting (group A) or the EP setting (group B). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival in patients who received at least one dose of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two patients entered into this trial, 42 in group A and 40 in group B. The objective response rates in group A and group B were 42.9% and 32.5%, respectively (p=0.334). Survival analysis showed that median progression-free survival was 6.1 months in group A, which was significantly longer than the 4.1 months in group B (p=0.041). However, as to overall survival, no significant difference was found between the two groups (11.0 vs 10.1 months in groups A and B, respectively, p=0.545). No unexpected side effects were observed in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EP-NP regimen for combined small cell carcinomas prolonged progression- free survival compared with the EP regimen. Further clinical investigations are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China E-mail : caicunzhou88@126.com, xujianfangdr@126.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hui-Kang
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Jian-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Cai-Cun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine