Treatment of oat-cell carcinoma of the lung in the community.

Nine patients with "limited" (thoracic) small-cell lung carcinoma were treated with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (involved field and prophylactic whole brain). Induction drugs were Vincristine, Adriamycin, and Cyclophosphamide; and Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and CCNU for maintenance. Eight out of nine patients (89%) continue NED at a median follow-up time of 12 months. This group is compared to 21 patients with more extensive disease and 6 patients with limited disease using various other regimens. Median survival in the extensive group was 5 months and 8 months for the limited-diseased group treated with single agents. Intensive combination chemo-irradiation therapy is safe and highly effective in patients with limited oat-cell carcinoma of the lung, and leads to prolonged disease-free survival.