Can long-term survival be improved in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and good performance status? Medical Research Council Lung Cancer Working Party.
Bleehen, N M Girling, D J Gregor, A Leonard, R C Machin, D McKenzie, C G Morgan, D A Smyth, J F Spittle, M F Stephens, R J
Bleehen, N M
Girling, D J
Gregor, A
Leonard, R C
Machin, D
McKenzie, C G
Morgan, D A
Smyth, J F
Spittle, M F
Stephens, R J
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Abstract
Results from a long-term follow-up suggest that in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and normal performance status intensive alternating chemotherapy and radiotherapy improve long-term survival rates. In a non-randomised study, 22 patients with SCLC of limited extent and good performance status were prescribed six cycles of etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin and cyclophosphamide at 4 week intervals with doses of thoracic radiotherapy following the second, third and fourth cycles. Although only six patients received all their prescribed treatment, nine (41%) were alive at 1 year, seven (32%) at 2 years, six (27%) at 3 years, and four are still alive at, respectively, 42, 47, 50, and 61 months, all four being in the subgroup of eight patients with WHO performance status grade 0 at the start of treatment. In a comparison with similar patients receiving conventionally scheduled chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a concurrent trial, no difference in survival was seen in the patients with performance status grade 1 or 2, but a large difference in favour of the alternating schedule in those with grade 0 status was seen. We encourage other investigators to report the results achieved with intensive treatment in patients with WHO grade 0 performance status at the start of treatment.
Description
Date
1994-07
Publisher
Collections
Keywords
Lung Cancer
Type
Article
Citation
Can long-term survival be improved in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and good performance status? Medical Research Council Lung Cancer Working Party. 1994, 70 (1):142-4 Br. J. Cancer