Multimodal therapy of small cell lung cancer in TNM stages I through IIIa

Since 1977, Innsbruck University Hospital has been employing a multimodal therapy concept for small cell bronchial carcinomas in stages I to IIIa. This concept includes all three treatment forms effective in this tumor, namely, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. The therapy scheme is stage-dependent and begins in stages T1-3 N0-1 with lung resection and in stage N2 with chemotherapy. To date, 45 patients have been included in a prospective, nonrandomized (phase II) trial: 7 in TNM stage I, 11 in stage II, and 27 in stage IIIa (6 T3 and 21 N2). The actuarial 5-year survival rate of the entire group (including therapy-related lethality, early recurrences, and protocol violations) is 36%; it is 57% for those in stage I, 28% for those in stage II, and 34% for those in stage IIIa. Median survival time is 18 months. Patients with completed multimodal treatment have a 5-year survival rate of 56% regardless of disease stage. Three patients died of tumor-unrelated causes after 47, 52, and 54 months.