Clinical observation of IEP followed EP chemotherapy in treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Background and purpose: The overall survival time of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is not satisfactory. No chemotherapy schemes more effective than etoposide combined with cisplatin, and other optimum combinations should be under evaluation. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival advantage of IEP followed by EP chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer compared with EP chemotherapy alone. Methods: From Jan 2004 to Sep 2007, 68 extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled in this project and were randomly divided into research group and control group in the ratio of 11. In the research group, 34 patients accepted IEP chemotherapy at least two times followed by EP chemotherapy maintenance therapy. 34 patients as control group accepted EP chemotherapy only. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Results: The median overall survival time of the research group was 15.32 months and the control group was 9.30 months. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.0787). The median time to progression of the research group was 7.83 months and 6.92 months for the control group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.0164). It is suggested that IEP followed by EP chemotherapy in treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer could get a better progression free survival, but the overall survival time has not been improved. Conclusion: We conclude that those patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer could get better progression free survival by accepting IEP chemotherapy.