[A pilot study of etoposide, split-dose cisplatin and THP in small cell lung cancer]

Sixteen untreated patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of Etoposide (70 mg/m2 i.v., day 3-5), Cisplatin (40 mg/m2 i.v., days 1 and 8) and THP (20 mg/m2 i.v., days 1 and 8). Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks and 15 patients received more than two cycles. The objective response rate was 80% (12 of 15) in complete cases, 91% (10 of 11) in limited disease and 50% (2 of 4) in extensive disease. CR rate was 33% in complete cases, 46% in limited disease. The median duration of response was 22.6 weeks. The median survival was more than 12 months in complete cases. Toxicity was primarily myelosuppression. Three of 15 patients had leukopenia of grade 4, 3 of 15 of grade 3, and 7 of 15 of grade 2. Nausea and vomiting were well tolerated by metoclopromide and methylprednisolone. The renal toxicity was minimal. There were no chemotherapy-related lethal complications. This schedule of Etoposide, split-dose Cisplatin and THP is effective and safe for patients with small cell lung cancer. However, the advantage of THP is still controversial.