Abstract |
Small cell lung cancers, comprising approximately 20% of lung cancers, are rapidly growing and disseminating carcinomas which are initially chemosensitive but acquire drug resistance during the course of disease. Thus, outcome is poor with median survival of 10-16 months for patients with limited and 7-11 months for patients with extensive disease. Polychemotherapy with established drugs (platins, etoposide, anthracyclines, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and Vinca alkaloids) plays the major role in the treatment of this disease and results in overall response rates between 80%-95% for limited disease and 60%-80% for extensive disease. Dose-intensified chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell support were tested in several trials but their exact impact on outcome remains to be determined. New drugs including the taxanes ( paclitaxel, docetaxel), the topoisomerase I inhibitors ( topotecan, irinotecan), vinorelbine and gemcitabine are currently evaluated in clinical trials. In limited disease, thoracic radiotherapy improves survival and prophylactic cranial irradiation should be administered to those with a reasonable chance of cure.
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Authors | S Zöchbauer-Müller, R Pirker, H Huber |
Journal | Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
(Ann Oncol)
Vol. 10 Suppl 6
Pg. 83-91
( 1999)
ISSN: 0923-7534 [Print] England |
PMID | 10676558
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Antineoplastic Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
(therapeutic use)
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Carcinoma, Small Cell
(drug therapy, radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms
(drug therapy, radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
- Treatment Outcome
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