Small cell carcinoma: combined approach to treatment. Issue 6 (December 1979)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gregor, A; Morgan, P G; Morgan, R L; Scadding, F H; Turner-Warwick, M
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 34:Issue 6(1979)
• Page Start: 789
• Page End: 793
• Publication Date: 1979-12
• Subjects: Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.34.6.789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Fifty-six patients with untreated small cell carcinoma of the bronchus were treated with three courses of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and procarbazine and methotrexate) and assessed for response. Thirty-one patients (55.4%) were classified as responders; they were given a course of radiotherapy and were then randomly allocated to continued cyclical chemotherapy or not further chemotherapy until relapse. Non-responders to chemotherapy were treated with radiotherapy or palliatively. The median survival was 10.5 months in responders and 6 months in non-responders (P less than 0.01). The one-year survival in responders was 42%. There was no statistical difference in survival between patients treated with continued chemotherapy and those treated at relapse. Sixty-nine per cent of patients experienced no side effects from chemotherapy. Three indicators of non-response to chemotherapy were identified--exercise tolerance at diagnosis, macroscopic liver metastases, and inappropriate ADH secretion.