Irinotecan Therapy for Small Lung Cancer
Sandler A.
Oncology (Huntingt). 2002;16:419-425, 428, 433-434.

Irinotecan, a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor, is being evaluated for use as a chemotherapeutic agent that may complement existing treatments of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Combination chemotherapy is the most effective method to improve survival in patients with extensive disease, but until recently no combination has demonstrated superior efficacy. A recent phase III study conducted in Japan that included previously untreated patients who had extensive SCLC found that survival was significantly improved in patients receiving irinotecan and cisplatin compared with patients receiving standard etoposide-plus-cisplatin therapy. The median progression-free survival was 6.9 months versus 4.8 months (P = .003). Median overall survival was 12.8 versus 9.4 months (P = .002). The results of phase I/II studies have shown that other irinotecan-based combinations are promising as both first- and second-line therapy in SCLC. Additional studies are planned and are needed to confirm the value of irinotecan in combination with other agents as first-line treatment of SCLC.