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Combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy in small cell carcinoma of the lung
Author(s) -
Eagan Robert T.,
Maurer L. Herbert,
Forcier R. Jackson,
Tulloh Marchant
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197308)32:2<371::aid-cncr2820320213>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - medicine , procarbazine , vincristine , cyclophosphamide , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , methotrexate , bone marrow suppression , bone marrow , combination chemotherapy , carcinoma , surgery , oncology , hormonal therapy , cancer , breast cancer
Twenty‐eight patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung were studied for their response to combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, frequency of bone marrow metastases, and clinically evident hormonal syndromes. Seventeen of 19 evaluable patients who received cyclic monthly courses of high‐dose cyclophosphamide and vincristine had objective responses. Five of seven patients treated with procarbazine from day 14‐28 of the cycle had progressive disease. Methotrexate (0.75‐1.0 mg/kg) administered on day 21 only or days 21 and 28 after cyclophosphamide and vincristine proved to be superior as a single agent with 6 of 14 patients responding and 8 of 14 showing no progression of disease. Radiation therapy to the primary tumor was effective in all dose schedules, but appeared superior when 3200 rads given in 10 doses over 12 days (1401 rets) was administered at the completion of the second course of chemotherapy. Ten of 24 patients had bone marrow metastases at the time of the initial diagnosis: and bone marrow aspiration should be used as a staging procedure. Six of 28 patients had clinical or laboratory evidence of hormonal or neurologic abnormalities.