36 P A phase II study of epirubicin in combination therapy of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

47 untreated patients with histologically proven SCLC were included. Patients characteristics were: median age 53(29–68), PS>70, 41 male and 6 female, 40 with limited disease (LD) and 7 with extensive disease (ED), evalubale or measurable disease. The treatment regimen consists of Epirubicin 30 mg/m 2 on dl+8, Etoposide 80 mg/m 2 on dl to 5 and Cisplatinum 80 mg/m 2 on d2, repeated every 3 weeks. The patients received 165 cycles chemotherapy totally. The overall response rate was 59.6%, including 19% CR. In LD stage CR is 20% and PR 45%. In ED stage one patient is with CR/primary tumor and gl.suprarenalis/and 1 with PR. The toxicities were mild and the most common: nausea, vomiting and alopecia in 100% with only one patient with hematological toxicity: neutropenia grade IV. No cardiotoxicity was observed. Our conclusion is that this regimen is active in SCLC with acceptable toxicity. The impact on survival remains to be determined.