LONG-TERM RESULTS OF A PHASE I II STUDY OF AGGRESSIVE CHEMOTHERAPY AND SEQUENTIAL UPPER AND LOWER HEMIBODY RADIATION FOR PATIENTS WITH EXTENSIVE-STAGE SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER/
Ja. Bonner et al., LONG-TERM RESULTS OF A PHASE I II STUDY OF AGGRESSIVE CHEMOTHERAPY AND SEQUENTIAL UPPER AND LOWER HEMIBODY RADIATION FOR PATIENTS WITH EXTENSIVE-STAGE SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER/, Cancer, 76(3), 1995, pp. 406-412
Background. A Phase I/II study of an aggressive six-drug chemotherapy
regimen followed by the use of sequential hemibody radiation therapy a
s a possible non-cross-resistant systemic treatment was undertaken for
patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer. Methods. The 20
enrolled patients received 7 cycles of cyclophosphamide-based chemoth
erapy. The first cycle consisted of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, eto
poside, vincristine, and lomustine. Subsequent cycles used a regimen o
f doxorubicin alternating with cisplatin. Thoracic radiation was deliv
ered in a split-course fashion during the first week of chemotherapy c
ycles 5 and 6 (2000 cGy in five fractions during each week). Prophylac
tic cranial radiation was delivered in a split-course fashion during t
he first week of chemotherapy cycles 2 and 3 (1700 cGy in 5 fractions
during each week). After the 7 cycles, patients received 600 cGy upper
hemibody radiation followed by 800 cGy lower hemibody radiation. Resu
lts. Nineteen of 20 patients were evaluable for toxicity and response
to treatment. Hematologic toxicity accounted for treatment delays or d
ecreased doses in 16 of 19 patients. Thirteen patients completed the i
nitial 7 cycles; progressive disease was the only reason for discontin
uing treatment. Two patients had fatal hematologic complications after
lower hemibody radiation. Three patients had severe or greater periph
eral neurologic toxicity, two had severe central neurologic toxicity,
and one had severe cardiac toxicity. Of 19 patients, 9 achieved a comp
lete response; median survival was 11.5 months. Five-year progression
free survival and 5-year overall survival were 27% and 16%, respective
ly. Conclusions. This aggressive regimen is feasible for patients with
extensive stage small cell lung cancer; however, hematologic-related
mortality after lower hemibody radiation suggests that future investig
ations should be initiated at lower initial doses of lower hemibody ra
diation. Long term survival of the patients suggests that sequential h
emibody radiation treatment warrants further investigation.