SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - COMPARISON TO A WEEKLY CHEMOTHERAPY WITH DRUGS WITH A STANDARD CHEMOTHERAPY

The administration of multiple cytostatic drugs on a weekly basis has been proposed as a new intensive chemotherapy modality for small-cell lung cancer. The European Lung Cancer Working Party has conducted a ra ndomized trial comparing to a standard regimen (cyclophosphamide + adr iamycine + etoposide given at the cycle beginning) a weekly chemothera py with 7 active drugs (cyclophosphamide + adriamycine + etoposide on day 1; cisplatin + vindesine on day 8; methotrexate + vincristine on d ay 15). A total of 215 eligible patients have been registered. There h as been no significant difference between the 2 arms for response and for survival. The total relative dose-intensity has been lower in the weekly chemotherapy arm. This approach has failed to improve current r esults.