Management of small cell cancer: intensive chemotherapy.

Appreciation of the fact that small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the bronchus (SCCB) has almost always metastasised by the time of clinical presentation has focused attention on the role of chemotherapy for this disease. Probably because of its rapid growth rate, SCCB is highly sensitive to several cytotoxic drugs, and the use of combination chemotherapy has significantly improved the duration and quality of survival of these patients. Nevertheless at present only a small percentage of patients obtain long-term survival and there is an obvious need for improvement in therapy to extend the currently attainable median survival. One approach to this is to intensify chemotherapy.