Long-term survivors of small-cell carcinoma of the lung

Small-cell carcinoma of the lung has been shown to be quite responsive to chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these responses are often short in duration, and long-term, disease-free survival is infrequent. This review of tumor registry records of all patients with small-cell carcinoma of the lung treated at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) from 1962 to 1983 showed that 21 of 500 (four per cent) survived 30 months or longer. Eighteen patients had limited-extent disease. Although the majority of patients received chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy and radiation, there were survivors in all treatment groups (i.e. surgery alone or radiotherapy alone). Six of the 21 long-term survivors eventually had relapses occurring as late as 88 months after diagnosis. The overall poor survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer suggests a need for the development of novel initial approaches to therapy.