PHASE-II STUDY OF INFUSIONAL CISPLATIN IN COMBINATION WITH ETOPOSIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

The efficacy of a 5 day continuous infusion of cisplatin, 25 mg/m(2)/d ay, in combination with a bolus infusion of etoposide, 100 mg/m(2)/day over 2 h for 3 days (PiE therapy), was evaluated in a phase II study of previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). T here were 39 evaluable patients, of whom 17 had limited disease (LD) a nd 22 extensive disease (ED). The overall response rate was 92% (LD, 1 00%; ED, 86%). The complete response rate was 21% (LD, 41%; ED, 5%). T he median survival time was 45.6 weeks (LD, 123.2 weeks; ED, 28.8 week s). The major side-effects were grade 3 or 4 leucopenia (55%), neutrop enia (88%) and thrombocytopenia (20%). There were no episodes of bleed ing, severe infection or treatment-related deaths. PiE therapy was ass ociated with significant myelosuppression, but was effective, with an especially encouraging response rate and survival for LD patients.