CARBOPLATIN AND ETOPOSIDE IN EXTENSIVE SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

The combination of carboplatin and etoposide was evaluated in 61 previ ously untreated patients with extensive small cell lung cancer. Treatm ent was given at four-week intervals with 450 mg/m(2) of carboplatin i ntravenously (i.v.) on day I and etoposide 100 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1- 3. The response was complete in 5 (9%) and partial in 28 (50%) of the 56 evaluable patients (overall response rate 59%). The median time to progression after response as well as the median survival time in all evaluable patients was 4.6 months. WHO grade 3 and 4 leukopenia and th rombocytopenia occurred in 8% and 11% of the courses respectively. Two treatment-related deaths were registered. The combination of carbopla tin and etoposide used in the present study produced acceptable respon se rate and toxicity, but duration of response and median survival wer e shorter than expected from earlier studies.