BACKGROUNDChemotherapy is main treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This aim of this study is to evaluate the effects and the adverse effects of HCE regimen (hydroxycamptothecin + etoposide + carboplatin) in treatment of SCLC.

METHODSPatients with previously untreated SCLC were randomized into two groups: HCE group (treated by HCE regimen) and EP group (treated by etoposide and cisplatin). The chemotherapeutic effects and the adverse effects were compared between two groups.

RESULTSA total of 71 patients could be evaluated. The overall response rate was 90.3% (28/31) for HCE group with 17 complete response (CR) and 11 partial response (PR), and 70.0% (28/40) in the EP group with 9 CR and 19 PR. The CR was significantly different between two groups. The median survival time of the HCE group and EP group were 11.5 and 25 months respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 72.4% vs 69.4% (P > 0.05), 2-year survival rate was 51.7% vs 44.4% (P < 0.05), and 3-year survival rate was 40.0% vs 29.2% (P < 0.05). Myelosuppression, diarrhea and vomiting were the main toxicities in two groups. The incidence of myelosuppression was higher in the HCE group than that in the EP group but without statistical difference (P > 0.05), whereas the incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly lower than that in the EP group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHCE regimen is an effective regimen for previously untreated SCLC with high CR and slight toxicity. It may be worthy of further clinical investigation.