Background: We conducted a phase I/II trial to assess the feasibility and activity of VIP-E chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer. End-points were treatment-related morbidity and mortality, response to treatment. duration of response, and survival.
Patients and methods: Two cycles of combination chemotherapy followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were given at a dose of etoposide (500 mg/m2), ifosfamide (4000 mg/m2), cisplatin (50 mg/m2), and epirubicin (50 mg/m2) to 100 consecutive patients with SCLC. Thirty patients (19 with LD, and 11 with ED SCLC) proceeded to VIC-E high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) at a cumulative dose of etoposide 1500 mg/m2, ifosfamide 12,000 mg/m2, carboplatin 750 mg/m2 and epirubicin 150 mg/m2 (VIC-E). Surgical resection of primary tumor was attempted at the earliest feasible point. Thoracic irradiation was given after completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS of conventional-dose VIP-E: 97 patients were evaluable for response. Objective response rate was 81% in LD-SCLC (33% CR, 48% PR; excluding patients in surgical CR) and 77% in ED-SCLC (18% CR, 58% PR). Treatment mortality was 2%. Median survival was 19 months in LD-SCLC and 6 months in ED-SCLC. Two-year survival was 36% in LD and 0% in ED SCLC. RESULTS OF HIGH-DOSE VIC-E: All 30 patients improved on or maintained prior responses. Four patients (13%) died of treatment-related complications. Median survival was 26 months in LD-SCLC and 8 months in ED-SCLC. Two-year survival was 53% in LD and 9% in ED SCLC.
Conclusion: VIP-E chemotherapy is an effective induction therapy for SCLC. Compared with traditional protocols such as ACO or carboplatin/etoposide, response rates are slightly improved, while survival is not different. In the LD SCLC subgroup, high-dose chemotherapy improved response rates and survival, especially for patients in surgical CR prior to high-dose therapy. In ED SCLC, however, higher response-rates did not translate into improved survival. Selected LD-SCLC patients with good partial or complete remissions after prior therapy may benefit from HDC and PBSCT.