Abstract

PURPOSE
Combination chemotherapy has shown promising activity in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This study was perfonned to determine the efficacy of the combination chemotherapy with etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin (VIP) in previously untreated patients with SCLC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with SCLC were treated with etoposide (75 mg/m iv. D1-4), ifosfamide (1200 mg/m iv. Dl-4 with mesna) and cisplatin (20 mg/m iv. D1-4). The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks for 6 cycles in principle. Thoracic radiotherapy was administered to patients with limited disease (LD) of SCLC after initial 2 or 3 cycles of chemotherapy subsequently. Praphylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was given to complete responders of SCLC.
RESULTS
From April 1996 through June 1998, 42 patients were included, but 32 were eligible for the study (4 refused of treatment, 2 lost in follow-up, and 4 combined with other disease). The median age was 62 years (range, 42-74). Twelve patients had LD and 20 patients were with extended disease (ED). Complete response (CR) rate was 34% (LD 58%, ED 20%) and overall response rate was 72% (LD 83%, ED 65%). The median duration of response was 28 weeks (38 weeks in LD, 24 weeks in ED, P=0.016) With the median follow-up period of 65 weeks (6-134 weeks), overall median survival was 43 weeks (56 weeks in LD, 34 weeks in ED, P 0.001), and the median disease free survival (DFS) of eleven CR patients was 16 weeks. Stage, performance, and LDH level were significant prognostic factom (P 0.011, 0.002, 0.043, respectively), but sex and age did not affect the outcome significantly. The hematologic side effects (WHO grade 2) of evaluable 152 cycles of chemotherapy were leukopenia (53%), thrombocytopenia (31%) and anemia (16%); and nonhematologic side effects (WHO grade >2) were alopecia (84%), nausea/vomiting (45%) and stomatitis (19%).
CONCLUSION
It appears that VIP combination chemotherapy is a safe, effective and well tolerated regimen for the patients with SCLC.

• Keywords: Small cell lung cancer;Chemotherapy;Etoposide;Ifosfamide;Cisplatin