A controlled clinical trial testing two potentially non-cross-resistant chemotherapeutic regimens in small-cell carcinoma of the lung.
With the objectives of improving response rate, duration of response, and survival in small-cell carcinoma of the lung, 39 patients were randomized to remission-induction with either one of two potentially non-cross-resistant drug combinations: APE (consisting of adriamycin, 35 mg/m2 IV, D1 Q 3 weeks; procarbazine, 60 mg/m2 PO, D1-10 Q 3 weeks; and the epipodophyllotoxin (VP16-213), 130 mg/m2 IV, D8, 15 Q 3 weeks) or MOCC (composed of methotrexate, 15 mg/m2 IV (with [vincristine] Oncovin) or PO twice weekly D8-21 Q 3 weeks; Oncovin, 1.5 mg/m2 IV, D8, 15 Q 3 weeks; cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m2 IV, D1 Q 3 weeks, and CCNU, 60 mg/m2 PO Q 6 weeks). A fixed crossover to the alternate regimen occurred at three months. Radiotherapy was delivered to the primary tumor (locoregional disease only) by a split course technique (1,750 rads for five days with a three-week split, followed by 3,400 rads over 17 days). The median survival including both arms was 11 months for regional and nine months for extensive disease. The chemotherapeutic activity of both regimens was comparable, with 15/17 (88 percent) of the patients responding to APE (including six complete) and 14/17 (82 percent) responding to MOCC (including five complete). The median survival for the complete responders was 11.7 months, while the partial responders survived for a median of 9.7 months. There were 2/9 (22 percent) responders to the alternate regimen at progressive disease. The overall incidence of CNS progression was 17 percent. The toxicity of the regimens was moderate, except for one instance of granulocytopenic death. This study establishes two equipotent drug combinations for the treatment of small-cell carcinoma of the lung.