Phase II study of irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course radiotherapy in limited-disease small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Irinotecan and cisplatin are one of active regimens for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). To determine the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course thoracic radiotherapy in limited-disease (LD) SCLC, we conducted a phase II study. Thirty-four patients fulfilling the following eligibility criteria were enrolled: chemotherapy-naïve, good performance status (PS 0-1), age ≤75, LD-SCLC, and adequate organ function. The patients received irinotecan 40mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1, 8, and 15, and cisplatin 60mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1. Four cycles of chemotherapy were repeated every 4weeks. Split-course thoracic radiotherapy of once-daily 2Gy/day commenced on day 2 of each chemotherapy cycle, with 26 and 24Gy administered in the first and second cycles, respectively. Thirty-four patients were eligible and assessable for response, toxicity, and survival. Patients' characteristics were as follows: male/female=29/5; PS 0/1=18/16; median age (range)=67 (50-73); and stage IB/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB=2/2/3/16/11. The overall response was 100% (CR 8, PR 26). Grade 4 leukopenia, neutropenia, grade 3-5 pneumonitis, diarrhea, and esophagitis occurred in 24, 38, 6, 3, and 0%, respectively. There were 2 treatment-related deaths from pneumonitis. The median time to tumor progression was 14.3months. The median overall survival time and the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 44.5months, 66.7 and 46.1%, respectively. No tumor progression was observed in patients with CR. Irinotecan plus cisplatin with concurrent split-course thoracic radiotherapy was effective and tolerable in untreated LD-SCLC.