Small cell carcinoma of the lung: results of combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

: A retrospective study of 244 patients treated for small cell carcinoma of the lung from Jan 1, 1971 to Dec 31, 1976 revealed that 34% of patients, with local-regional disease who received radiation alone survived one year (median survival, seven months), and 53% with local-regional disease survived one year (median survival, 12 months) when treated with combination chemotherapy and radiation. The one-year survival for patients presenting with metastatic disease was 14.5% (median survival, five months) when treated with radiation alone and 50% (median survival, 11 months) when treated with combination chemotherapy and radiation. Although combination chemotherapy and radiation will prlong the disease-free interval in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung, more than 90% will develop evidence of progressive disease within two years.