HIGH-DOSE INTENSIFICATION CHEMOTHERAPY WITH AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION IN SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - A PILOT-STUDY

Five out of nine patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) intended for high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) completed ABMT while the other 4 were excluded due to contraind ications. Primary tumors had been resected before the inclusion in two of them. Four cycles of chemotherapy had been conducted before ABMT, and partial remission (PR) had been obtained in the other three, The p reparative regimen consisted of carboplatin 500-600 mg/m(2), epirubici n 60-75 mg/m(2) and etoposide 450-1200 mg/m(2). PR was converted to co mplete remission (CR) in one patient while the others remained stable after ABMT. Severe non-hematologic toxicities were observed during thi s',period. All 3 non-operated patients subsequently received chest irr adiation (60 Gy) +/- prophylactic bilateral supraclavicular irradiatio n (40 Gy), Only one patient was in event-free survival by the time of final follow-up. The reasonable procedure for such a setting should be further investigated.