Phase III study of CCNU, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and VP‐16 in small‐cell carcinoma of the lung

A comparison of CTX + CCNU and CTX + CCNU + procarbazine as initial systemic treatment was made in 440 evaluable patients with small‐cell carcinoma of the lung. The overall response rate for patients receiving the three‐drug combination was 57% (11% CR) compared with 44% (9% CR) for the two‐drug combination. Median survival times were similar, 27 (with procarbazine) and 29 weeks (without procarbazine). Nonresponders to the initial treatment received ADR, ADR + VCR, and ADR + VP‐16 with overall response rates of 14% (2 of 14), 27% (9 of 33), and 30% (15 of 51), respectively. Median survivals for nonresponders, as measured from day 42, were 15 weeks (ADR), 21 weeks (ADR + VCR), and 22 weeks (ADR + VP‐16). Responders to the initial treatment either continued on the initial therapy or received a non‐cross‐resistant combination chemotherapeutic regimen (ADR + VCR) alternating with the initial therapy. There is also the suggestion that responders who received the cycled therapy after day 42 survived significantly longer than responders who did not switch treatments until relapse, 38 vs. 29 weeks.