To compare the efficacies and side effects of etoposide, cisplatin/cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine(VPP/CAV) with that those of carboplatin etoposide(CE) in extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients.

Patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer who has measurable disease were eligible. VPP/CAV group(n=22) was treated with cisplatin(60mg/m² iv. D1) etoposide(100mg/m² iv. D1-3),after and 3 weeks later cyclophosphamide(1000mg/m² iv. D1), adriamycin(40mg/m² iv. D1), and vincristine(1.4mg/m² iv. D1), were administered alternatively. CE group (n=22) was treated with carboplatin (325mg/m² iv. D1) and etoposide (100mg/m² iv. D1-3)(;) repeated treatment was performed every 3 weeks.

Forty four patients were eligible for the study. Overall The overall response rate was 61.4% (complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 61.4%, stable disease rate 25%, progressive disease rate 13.6%), and median survival was 10.8 months. In VPP/CAV group, response rate was 54.5%(complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 54.4%, stable disease rate 27.3%, progressive disease rate 18.2%), and, in carboplatin/etoposide group, the response rate was 68.2%(complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 68.2%, stable disease rate 22.7%, progressive disease rate 9.1%). The median survival time was 9.5 months in the VPP/CAV group and 11 months in CE group. The toxicity of both group was moderate, and anemia was more frequent in the CE group.

VPP/CAV regimen and CE regimen produced similar response rate and survival time rates and survival times in extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients. We may suggest that CE regimen are effective may be effective as part of the initial therapy of for extensive stage small cell lung cancer.