Skip to main content
Log in

Two randomized trials for alternating polychemotherapy of small cell lung cancer

  • International Satellite Symposium to the 3rd European Conference on Clinical Oncology Stockholm, June 1985 Recent Experience with Ifosfamide/Mesna in Solid Tumor
  • Polychemotherapy, Small Cell Lung Cancer
  • Published:
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) were treated in two multicenter trials with different cytostatic drug regimens including ifosfamide.

In the first randomized study, including 306 patients, alternating chemotherapy with VP 16, ifosfamide, vindesine (VPIV), adriamycin, cisplatinum, vincristine (APO), and cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, CCNU (CMCC) was compared against standard treatment with ACO (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine).

It was shown that the alternating therapy resulted in a higher response rate (88% vs 78%) and a longer median survival time (11 months vs 10 months). Regarding toxicity, VPIV was similar to ACO, whereas APO and CMCC had more side-effects, leading to an increase in the number of drop-outs.

In the second randomized study 144 patients were treated either with ifosfamide/VP 16 (IVP) or with cisplatinum/VP 16 (PVP). In the case of no further response, no change, or progression the induction therapy was changed to ACO. Interim analyses show that both regimens have similar therapeutic effects; but higher toxicity was observed in patients treated withcis-platinum/VP 16 than in patients treated with ifosfamide/VP 16.

According to the response rate in patients treated with ACO after first-line therapy there was less cross-resistance of IVP than of PVP to ACO.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cohen MH, Ihde DC, Bunn PA et al (1979) Cyclic alternating combination chemotherapy for small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Cancer Treat Rep 63: 163–170

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dombernowsky P, Hansen HH, Sörenson S, Österlind K (1979) Sequential versus non-sequential combination chemotherapy using 6 drugs in advanced small cell carcinoma: a comparative trial including 146 patients. Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 20: 277

    Google Scholar 

  3. Harms V, Havemann K, Gropp C et al (1983) A randomized multicenter trial comparing sequential versus alternating polychemotherapy in small cell lung cancer. XIIIth Int Congress on Chemotherapy, Vienna, Proceedings, vol 16: 248/10

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mehta C, Vogl SE (1982) Cyclic non-cross-resistant combination chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer in remission, 50% prolongation of remission duration without prolongation of survival and with enhanced toxicity. Proc Am Soc Cancer Res, Abstr

  5. Sierocki JS, Hilaris BS, Hopfan S, et al (1980) Small cell carcinoma of the lung: experience with a six-drug regimen. Cancer 45: 417–422

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sikie BI, Daliels JR, Chak L, et al (1981) POCC versus POCC-VAM therapy for small cell lung cancer. In: Prestayko AW, eds, Nitrosoureas: Current status and new developments. Academic Press, New York, pp 221–231

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Havemann, K., Gropp, C., Klapsing, J. et al. Two randomized trials for alternating polychemotherapy of small cell lung cancer. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 18 (Suppl 2), S40–S44 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00647450

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00647450

Keywords

Navigation