Korean J Med.  2001 Dec;61(6):590-596.

Etoposide and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in extensive stage small cell lung cancer

• Suh JY
• Jeong HS
• Lee SS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) disseminates early and has poor prognosis. However, SCLC is highly chemosensitive, thus chemotherapy has been established as the primary mode of treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of etoposide in combination with cisplatin in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer.
METHODS
Thirty four patients (28 males, 6 females) with previously untreated extensive stage small cell lung cancer were treated with etoposide at a dose of 100 mg/m2, IV on days 1-3 with cisplatin at 100 mg/m2, IV on day 1. The median age was 63 (range 41~80). This combination chemotherapy was administered every 3-4 weeks. Response rate, response duration, survival, and toxicity were evaluated.
RESULTS
The response rate was 50%. The median survival time was 29 weeks. The median response duration was 17.2 weeks in responders. The toxicity was acceptable.
CONCLUSION
This study illustrated that the combination of etoposide and cisplatin is effective in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer, and can be administered with acceptable toxicity. Although this study was not designed to be a formal comparative trial, the efficacy and toxicity observed with this regimen were found to be comparable to previous reports.

Keyword

Small Cell Lung Cancer; Etoposide; Cisplatin

MeSH Terms

Cisplatin*
Drug Therapy
Drug Therapy, Combination*
Etoposide*
Humans
Male
Prognosis
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*
Cisplatin
Etoposide