[CMC chemotherapy regimen combined with surgery of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)]

From Dec. 1982 to Oct. 1984, 35 patients with SCLC proved by pathology or cytology, were treated by cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + CCNU (CMC) regimen combined with surgery in our hospital. All the patients received chemotherapy for more than 2 courses and the overall response rate was 85.7%, complete remission (CR) rate was 14.3%. Toxic reactions were tolerable to the patients. Treatment result was better in SCLC with localized than extensive disease. Operation was done for 9 out of 21 patients with localized lesions which had responded to chemotherapy. Of them, 1 died of postoperative complication, 2 were lost in follow-up and the rest 6 were disease-free for 8-32 months with a median survival time of 19 months. The 1 year survival rate was 75%. The results indicate that in limited disease of SCLC, successful chemotherapy combined with surgery can prolong the survival time. For patients with an limited disease which has given a CR, surgical resection should be strived for.