Dose intensification in small cell lung cancer chemotherapy

Abstract

Lung cancer presents a major worldwide health problem, accounting for 10% of all cancers. The treatment for those patients with small cell lung cancer has been unsatisfactory, but combination chemotherapy administered with radiotherapy can effect a cure in a minority of patients. Intensification of chemotherapy can improve the cure rate, and there are now a variety of haemopoietic growth factors available to support this approach, as the principal toxicity of the drugs used today is bone marrow suppression. Strategies to protect the bone marrow are also in development and are likely to allow further dose intensification. Recently randomised trials have reported survival benefits for intensified treatments.