Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is considered extremely sensitive to first-line chemotherapy, but most patients are destined to relapse, and need a second-line regimen. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the paclitaxel and cisplatin (PC) combination in relapsed SCLC.
Methods: Eligible patients were those with SCLC who had progressed or relapsed after therapy with carboplatin and etoposide (with or without chest radiotherapy). Forty-one patients were enrolled for this study. The PC regimen consisted of paclitaxel 175mg/m² on day 1 and cisplatin 30mg/m² on days 1, 2, 3; PC was given every 21 days.
Results: In 39 evaluable patients, responses included 5 complete remissions and 18 partial remissions (overall response rate, 59.0%), 13 patients had stable disease and 3 had progressive disease. Median time to progression and overall survival were 20 and 27 weeks, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 10.3%. The main toxicity was hematological toxicity. Grade III+IV leukopenia was seen in 10 patients ( 24.4% ) and no febrile neutropenia, grade III thrombocytopenia was seen in 2 patients (4.9%). Nausea and vomiting was seen in 34 patients (82.9%), including 3 patients with grade III. No grade III+IV neuropathy was observed, there was no renal toxicity. There were no treatment-related deaths.
Conclusions: The PC combination is highly active and tolerable in patients with relapsed SCLC when it is administered as second-line treatment .