BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the effects and toxicities of topotecan combined with cisplatin in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODSTwenty-six patients with SCLC diagnosed by pathologic or cytologic examination were treated with topotecan 1.25 mg/(m²*d) on days 1-5 and cisplatin 25 mg/(m²*d) on days 1-3. The chemotherapy was repeated every 21 days as a cycle.

RESULTSOut of 26 evaluable patients, 3 achieved complete response and 11 achieved partial response with an overall response rate of 53.8%. The response rates were 75.0% and 35.7% in 12 previously untreated patients and 14 patients with prior chemotherapy, respectively. In addition, one of eight refractory patients and two of five patients with brain metastasis got partial responses. The median survival period was 27 weeks and one-year survival rate was 38.5%. Myelosuppression was the major dose-limiting toxicity.

CONCLUSIONSTopotecan combined with cisplatin is effective for SCLC and it toxicity is tolerable.