[A combination phase II study of adriamycin, CDDP and etoposide in small cell lung cancer]

A combination phase II study was performed on 31 patients with previously untreated small-cell lung cancer (19 LD & 12 ED). Patients were treated intravenously with Adriamycin (30 mg/m2 day 1), CDDP (80 mg/m2 day 1) and Etoposide (70 mg/m2 x 3 day 1, 3, 5). This combination chemotherapy was administered over a four- or five-week period. Among 26 evaluable patients there were 4 CR and 17 PR, giving a response rate of 80.8% (68.4% in LD). The median duration of response was 19 (3-123) weeks. Despite the relatively low response rate and CR rate, the median survival times of LD and ED patients were 17.0 (3.1-43.1) and 9.4 (4.4-17.7) months, respectively. The major toxic effect of this regimen was bone marrow suppression. Two patients were excluded from this study in the first course because of severe hematologic toxicity. The renal toxicity of this regimen was minimal and no patients developed any clinical problem. Nausea and vomiting during the treatment were well controlled by high-dose metoclopramide and methylprednisolone. In conclusion, this combination of chemotherapy is effective for patients with small cell lung cancer. However, the advantage of adding Adriamycin to CDDP and Etoposide is still controversial.