Cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy for refractory small cell carcinoma of the lung

Twenty-nine patients with refractory recurrent small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with cisplatin (40 mg/m²) and etoposide (200 mg/m²) each day for 3 days, repeated every 3-4 weeks. Fifteen of these patients had received etoposide in their original treatment regimen. Fifteen (52%) of all patients had a major response, as did nine (60%) of the patients with prior exposure to etoposide. Myelotoxicity was moderately severe. The median duration of responses was 3 months (range, 6-36 weeks). This study suggests synergism between cisplatin and etoposide. The toxicity seen in this heavily pretreated group of patients suggests that smaller doses be studied in this group. The synergism may be best utilized in the initial regimens against small cell lung cancer.