Tuberc Respir Dis.  2003 Apr;54(4):415-428.

Clinical Response to Etoposide Plus Carboplatin and Topotecan Chemotherapy in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kyc0923@chonnam.ac.kr / medkid@empal.com

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the efficacy and toxicity of etoposide and carboplatin(EC) combination regimen as a first line therapy for small cell lung cancer(SCLC), and determined the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan for relapsed SCLC.
METHODS
One hundred and ten patients with previously untreated SCLC received etoposide(100mg/m2 i.v., day 1 to 3) and carboplatin(300mg/m2 i.v., day 1) combination chemotherapy every 3 weeks. For patients with relapsed SCLC after EC therapy, topotecan(1.5mg/m2) was administered for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Response rate, survival and toxicity profiles were assessed. Response was recorded as CR(complete remission), PR(partial remission), SD(stable disease) and PD(progressive disease).
RESULTS
One hundred and one patients were assessed for response to EC. Overall response rate to EC was 57.4%(CR 15.8%, PR 41.6%) with a time to progression of 10.3 months(median). The toxicity was tolerable and there was no treatment-related death. Twenty one relapsed SCLC patients were treated with topotecan. Of those who relapsed within 3 months of EC(refractory relapse, RR), 15.4%(2/13) showed PR, while of those who relapsed after 3 months(sensitive relapse, SR), 25%(2/8) exhibited PR. Grade 4 neutropenia was noted in 9.5% and 14.3% showed thrombocytopenia(G4).
CONCLUSION
The EC regimen showed a moderate response rate for SCLC with minimal toxicity. The use of topotecan for relapsed SCLC warrants further investigation.

Keyword

Small cell lung cancer; Etoposide; Carboplatin; Topotecan

MeSH Terms

Carboplatin*
Drug Therapy*
Drug Therapy, Combination
Etoposide*
Humans
Lung
Neutropenia
Recurrence
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*
Survival Rate
Topotecan*
Carboplatin
Etoposide
Topotecan
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