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Lung Cancer: Small Cell - Extensive Disease
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Thalidomide Doesn’t Benefit Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Etoposide and Carboplatin (7/24/2009)
Researchers from the U.K. have reported that treatment with a combination of thalidomide (Thalomid®) and chemotherapy did not improve survival among patients with small cell lung cancer, and resulted in a higher risk of blood clots than treatment with chemotherapy alone. The results of this study were published in the August issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Gemzar® and Paraplatin® Equivalent to Platinol® and VePesid® for SCLC (12/4/2008)
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that a regimen of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) is as effective palliation as standard Platinol® (cisplatin) and VePesid® (etoposide) for patients with poor-risk small cell lung cancer (SCLC) but with less toxicity. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in Thorax on September 11, 2008.
Non-Platinum Chemotherapy as Effective for SCLC (10/17/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Cochrane Library have reported that chemotherapy regimens that do not contain platinum agents (Platinol and Paraplatin) appear to be just as effective as regimens that do contain platinum agents in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. These results were recently published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
VePesid®/Platinol® Remains Standard of Care for Small Cell Lung Cancer (6/6/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) reported that Camptosar® (irinotecan) plus Platinol® (cisplatin) did not demonstrate a survival improvement compared with VePesid® (etoposide)/cisplatin in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The SWOG researchers state that in North America, “etoposide remains the reference standard for treatment of SCLC.” These results were presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Aranesp® Does Not Increase the Relapse Rate in Patients with Advanced SCLC (5/19/2008)
Researchers involved in Amgen’s Aranesp pharmacovigilance program (the 145 Study) have reported that Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) has no adverse effect on outcomes of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. The details of this randomized Phase III study were published in the May 10, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Threefold Dose Intensity of ICE Does Not Improve Outcomes in Small Cell Lung Cancer (4/17/2008)
Researchers associated with the Solid Tumors Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation have reported that increasing the dose intensity of ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) by threefold by using peripheral blood stem cell support did not improve outcomes of patients with limited or extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on April 8, 2008.
PET Useful for Staging of Small Cell Lung Cancer (4/16/2008)
Researchers from West Virginia University have reported that positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for staging of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this study appeared in the January 2008 issue of Clinical Lung Cancer.
Avastin® Associated Bowel Perforation Defined (12/4/2007)
Researchers from the MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported that the incidence of bowel perforation among patients receiving Avastin (bevacizumab) for a variety of malignancies was 1.7%. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the Annals of Oncology on November 16, 2007.
Camptosar®-Platinum Regimens Confirmed Effective for Small Cell Lung Cancer (11/5/2007)
At the 12th meeting of the World Lung Cancer Conference in September, 2007, there were two studies presented evaluating Camptosar (irinotecan)-platinum regimens in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Avastin® Added Safely to Paraplatin and Camptosar for Small Cell Lung Cancer (11/1/2007)
Researchers from the Sarah Cannon Research Institute determined that Avastin (bevacizumab) could be safely added to the regimen of Paraplatin (carboplatin) and Camptosar (irinotecan) in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).[1] The details of this study were presented at the 12th World Conference on Lung Cancer in September, 2007.
Thalomid® May not Improve Outcomes of Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) (10/22/2007)
Researchers from the UK have reported that the addition of Thalomid to etoposide plus Paraplatin (carboplatin) did not improve outcomes of patients with advanced small cell lung cancer SCLC). The details of this randomized trial were presented at the Presidential Symposium of the 12th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul, Korea, September 2-6, 2007.
Oral Hycamtin® (topotecan) Approved for Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer (10/16/2007)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an oral formulation of Hycamtin capsules for the treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This approval will allow patients to be treated at home.
Prophylactic Cranial Radiation Improves Survival in Extensive Small-Cell Lung Cancer (6/5/2007)
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), prophylactic cranial radiation following treatment with chemotherapy doubles survival at one year and reduces the risk of developing brain metastasis among patients with extensive-disease small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Oral and Intravenous Hycamtin® Equally Effective for Small Cell Lung Cancer (5/24/2007)
Researchers involved in an international study have confirmed that the oral form of Hycamtin (topotecan) is as effective as the intravenous form for the second line palliative treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this randomized trial appeared in the May 20, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Amrubicin Shows Promise in Relapsed or Refractory Small Cell Lung Cancer (12/7/2006)
Researchers from Japan have reported at 50% response rate following treatment with the new synthetic anthracycline amrubicin in patients with refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Calypso® 4D Localization System May Improve Efficacy of External Beam Radiotherapy (12/1/2006)
At the 2006 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in November there were 10 abstracts presented that describe a new system for measuring and monitoring organ motion in real time during external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).
Fractionated Camptosar® Plus Paraplatin® Well Tolerated in Patients with Extensive Disease-SCLC (12/1/2006)
Researchers from Korea have reported that a regimen of fractionated Camptosar (irinotecan) plus Paraplatin (carboplatin) is a well tolerated regimen for patients with previously untreated extensive disease-small cell lung cancer ED-SCLC.
Alimta® Safe and Active in Small Cell Lung Cancer (10/24/2006)
Researchers involved in a multicenter randomized phase II trial have reported that Alimta® (pemetrexed) and either Platinol® (cisplatin) or Paraplatin® (carboplatin) provides a safe and effective treatment for newly diagnosed patients with extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Paraplatin®, Camptosar® Supported by Neupogen® Well Tolerated in Elderly with Small Cell Lung Cancer (8/4/2006)
Researchers from Japan have reported that a regimen of Paraplatin (carboplatin) and Camptosar (irinotecan) supported by Neupogen was effective and well tolerated in elderly patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Addition of Thalomid® to Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Small Cell Lung Cancer (6/30/2006)
Researchers from France have reported that the addition of Thalomid (thalidomide) to chemotherapy improves survival in patients with extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this study were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Atlanta, Ga.
Oral Hycamtin® and Platinol® Regimen Active in Small Cell Lung Cancer (7/5/2005)
A regimen of oral Hycamtin (topotecan) and IV Platinol (cisplatin) has shown comparable activity to IV etoposide and Platinol for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Camptosar®/Platinol® Equivalent to VePesid®/Platinol® in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (5/17/2005)
Results from a “late-breaking” study indicate that the chemotherapy combination consisting of Camptosar (irinotecan) plus Platinol (cisplatin) provides similar long-term outcomes to VePesid (etoposide) plus Platinol as initial therapy in extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, due to different side effect profiles, individualized treatment including either of these regimens in the treatment of extensive SCLC may be utilized.
New Synthetic Anthracycline, Amrubicin, Shows Promise for the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer (3/14/2005)
Researchers from Japan have determined that a new synthetic anthracycline in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®) has significant activity in newly diagnosed extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The details of this phase I/II study appeared in the March 2005 issue of the Annals of Oncology.
More Evidence that PET Scans are Better than CT Scans for Staging Lung Cancer (4/29/2004)
Two separate studies show that PET scans lead to stage changes and alter therapy compared to conventional assessment in both NSCLC and SCLC. The NSCLC study was published in the May 2004 issue of
The International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics,
1 and the SCLC study was published in the April 2004 issue of
The American Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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U.S. and European Research Reveals an "Epidemic" of Lung Cancer among Women (4/21/2004)
A special report in the April 14, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association calls attention to the increase in lung cancer in women.
1 A similar phenomena has been reported from Europe in the June 10, 2004 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
2
Correction of Anemia with Aranesp® Decreases Cancer Related Fatigue, Anxiety and Depression (7/24/2003)
Analysis of a large multinational randomized trial of darbepoetin alfa (erythropoietin, Aranesp®) for treatment of cancer-induced anemia demonstrated significant improvement in cancer-related fatigue, which was associated with less anxiety and depression. These result appeared in the July 2003 issue of
Cancer.
1
Randomized Trial Confirms Superiority of Platinol® and Etoposide For Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (10/30/2002)
Based on phase II clinical trials, Platinol® (cisplatin) and etoposide (VePesid®) has become the standard approach to treating small cell lung cancer (SCLC). More recently, other agents such as the taxanes and irinotecan have been explored in combination with cisplatin and etoposide. Norwegian researchers began a randomized trial in 1989 to determine whether or not cisplatin and etoposide were superior to the then standard approach of treatment with Ellence® (epirubicin), cyclophosphamide and Oncovin® (vincristine). The last patient was entered on this trial in 1994. In this study, published as an early release report in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology, the combination of Platinol® and etoposide improved survival in patients with limited SCLC but not in patients with extensive disease.
Temodol® Improves the Response Rate to Radiation Therapy for Cancer Metastatic to Brain (10/11/2002)
Temozolomide (Temodol®) is an analog of the alkylating agent procarbazine which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of recurrent brain tumors. Current research with this drug primarily involves treatment of newly diagnosed brain tumors. However, researchers in Greece have evaluated the effectiveness of Temodol® for the treatment of cancer metastatic to brain. At the 2002 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the researchers reported that the addition of Temodol® to whole-brain radiation therapy resulted in significantly higher response rates of brain metastases compared to whole brain radiation alone.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Following Whole Brain Radiation Therapy Improves Palliation of Patients with Cancer Metastatic to Brain (10/8/2002)
Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is the most frequent palliative modality for patients with cancer metastatic to the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), also called gamma knife therapy or 3-dimensional radiation therapy, can deliver precise doses of radiation to tumor sites while sparing normal tissue. Stereotactic techniques are used to treat a variety of cancers and are widely accepted as superior to non-precise radiation techniques. Since 1996, researchers from 34 medical institutions affiliated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group have been carrying out a study to document the benefits of SRS in individuals with cancers that are metastatic to the brain. They have concluded from this study that SRS adds significantly to the palliation achieved with WBRT alone. They reported these results at a plenary session of the annual meeting of the
American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in October of 2002.
Intraspinal Implantable Drug System Effective in Controlling Pain Due to Metastatic Cancer (10/1/2002)
The management of pain is an important component for the treatment of most patients with metastatic cancer. It is estimated that 5-15% of patients with metastatic cancer have pain that is refractory to oral and i.v. narcotics. Intraspinal implantable drug delivery systems (IDDSs) deliver small doses of morphine directly to the spinal fluid, theoretically requiring smaller doses of narcotics. Although this system is known to be effective, there have been no randomized controlled trials. Researchers in the U.S. and Europe affiliated with the Implantable Drug Delivery Systems Study Group have determined that IDDSs are better than conventional pain management techniques. They reported these results in the October 2002 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Aranesp™ Reduces Blood Transfusions in Patients with Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy (8/21/2002)
Patients with lung and other cancers receiving chemotherapy may develop anemia, which is corrected by blood transfusions. The main symptomatic side effect of anemia is fatigue. Some patients receiving chemotherapy have low levels of endogenous erythropoietin, although the cause of anemia is multifactorial and significantly includes chemotherapy suppression of blood production. Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) can enhance red blood cell production in patients receiving chemotherapy and theoretically avoid blood transfusions despite continued myelosuppression. Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp") is a new erythropoiesis-stimulating protein that has a longer half-life than rHuEPO and can be administered less frequently.
Mortality from Major Cancer Surgery and Morbidity From Prostate Surgery Lower in High Volume Hospitals Than in Low Volume Hospitals (4/16/2002)
There were two reports in the April 11 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine which strongly support the concept that patients facing major cancer surgery should select a high volume hospital near where they live.
Camptosar® Plus Platinol® Is Superior to Etoposide Plus Platinol® for Treatment of Extensive Small-Cell Lung Cancer (2/21/2002)
In most cases, chemotherapy for extensive small-cell lung cancer includes etoposide plus Platinol® alone or in alternation with a regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and Oncovin®. This approach yields a median survival of 8 to 10 months and a 2-year survival rate of 10%. In preliminary studies, Camptosar®, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, was effective against small-cell lung cancer. A phase 2 study of Camptosar® plus Platinol® yielded a complete response rate of 29 % and an overall response rate of 86 % with a median survival of 13.2 months for patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer.
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