Efficacy of Second-line Chemotherapy in Patients With Sensitive Relapsed Small-cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: To evaluate treatment efficacy of cisplatin, etoposide, and irinotecan combined therapy (PEI), platinum-rechallenge chemotherapy (Pt-Re) and amrubicin monotherapy (AMR) for patients with sensitive relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients and methods: We defined sensitive relapse as treatment-free interval (TFI) ≥90 days. We retrospectively collected patients' data from medical records between September 2002 and December 2016. Patients with sensitive relapsed SCLC who received second-line chemotherapy were separated into those treated with PEI, with Pt-Re, or with AMR.

Results: Seventy-one patients (16 PEI group, 27 Pt-Re group, and 28 AMR group) were assessable for efficacy. No significant differences in patient characteristics were found among the three groups. The median overall survival (MST) was 29.3 months in the PEI group, 24.6 months in the Pt-Re group, and 20.6 months in the AMR group (p=0.042).

Conclusion: A significant difference was observed in the overall survival of patients treated with PEI, Pt-Re and AMR and the MST of PEI was the longest.

Keywords: Small-cell lung cancer; cisplatin etoposide and irinotecan; platinum rechallenge; second-line chemotherapy; sensitive relapse.