Treatment of small cell lung cancer by different chemotherapy regimes

It has become clear from many studies that small-cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) is highly responsive to combination chemoterapy regimes with or without radiation therapy. The authors started a multicentre phase III trial in which a standardized treatment consisting of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (ACO) was compared with an alternating combination chemotherapy consisting of three different regimes (VPIV) APO, CMCC). Before starting with this phase III trial they performed two phase II studies in which the VPIV and the APO regimens were studied for their effectiveness and for their toxicity as firstline therapy programs. In a third phase II trial, they studied alternating combination chemotherapy (VPIV, CMCC, APO) without comparing it with a standard treatment. The results of the three phase II (trial as well as preliminary results of the phase III trial are presented in this report.