Carboplatin (JM8), etoposide (VP16) and thoracic Irradiation for small cell lung cancer (S.C.L.C.): An evaluation of lung toxicity

Carboplatin (JM8) and etoposide (VP16) have demonstrated activity against a range of solid tumours. A retrospective study has looked for evidence of enhanced radiation pneumonitis when these drugs are employed in conjunction with irradiation. Twenty-nine patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (S.C.L.C.) received JM8 (300 mg/m2) and VP16 (300 mg/m2) at intervals of 3-4 weeks for 4 cycles followed by thoracic irradiation. Twenty-one were evaluated and compared with 21 matched non-S.C.L.C. patients treated by radiotherapy alone. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the radiation dose schedule normalised using Wara's modification of Ellis' formula (n = 0.38, t = 0.06) [28]. Group 1 received < 1014 rets, Group 2 1015-1250 rets and Group 3 > 1250 rets, Radiological pneumonitis was observed in 57% ( 12 21) of patients receiving combined modality treatment compared to 71% ( 15 21) of patients receiving radiation alone with evidence of a radiation dose-response relationship for the appearance of pneumonitis in both groups of patients (p > 0.1). In conclusion, no enhancement of radiation pneumonitis by carboplatin (JM8) or etoposide (VP16) has been observed. © 1988.