[Small-cell anaplastic bronchopulmonary cancers. Prognostic and therapeutic review apropos 49 cases]

This retrospective study of 49 patients with small-cell broncho-pulmonary carcinoma showed the principal prognostic factor to be the response to chemotherapy: an initial treatment association of cyclophosphamide (800 mg/m2), adriamycin (60 mg/m2), methotrexate (40 mg/m2) and CCNU (60 mg/m2) every four weeks was used in 40 patients, out of 46 patients who underwent chemotherapy. All cases were followed up for a minimum of 6 months except 2 who were lost to follow-up; there are 9 survivors, all of whom initially had an apparent complete remission: the extension of the disease seemed to be of less prognostic significance than the response to treatment. The response rate to this protocol was 84 p. cent with 52 p. cent apparent complete remissions. The mean global survival rate was 9 months (mean survival rate of treated patients: 11.46 months). Some patients with disseminated carcinoma initially had very prolonged survival. The association of a final session of thoracic radiotherapy seemed to be useful (the 4 patients who underwent radiotherapy after 8 to 12 sessions of chemotherapy are still alive after an average of 18 months follow-up with no signs of recurrence).