The Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Twenty nine patients with small cell lung cancer patients has been studied from January 1986 to September 1990. In 14 limited disease patients, combination chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy to primary lung, mediastinum, supraclavicular lymph nodes and prophylatic whole brain irradiation was performed.

Fifteen extensive disease patients were treated combination chemotherapy alone.

The results obtained were as follows :

1) Coughing, dyspnea and chest pain were frequent symptomes in the order of frequency. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and Eaton-Lambert syndrome were observed in 20.7% and 19.0% respectively.

2) A 92.8% overall response rate and 50.0% overall complete remission rate in limited disease and 53.0% overall reponse rate width 40.0% complete remission rate in limited disease and 53.0% overall reponse rate with 40.0% complete remission rate in extensive disease were achieved. Overall response rate of limited disease was higher than that of extensive disease.

3) Overall median survival was 10.9 months and 11.1 months in limited diease and 8.4 months in extensive diease were obtained. Overall median survival of complete responder was 11.7 months, that was longer than 6.0 months of partial responders.

4) The treatment toxicities were mainly nausea, vomiting and alopecia but fatal one episode or arganulocytosid was experienced. Further trials and new therapeutic plans are must be set to improve therapeutic efficary and minimize toxicities.