Chemotherapy of small cell carcinoma of the lung with V.P. 16-213.

A Phase II study of V.P. 16-213 administered to 47 patients suffering from small cell carcinoma of the bronchus. V.P. 16-213 was given as an intravenous infusion over 15 minutes daily for five consecutive days using 60 mg/m2/d at 14-day intervals. Oral V.P. in 100 mg doses was given twice a week between the intravenous courses. Objective response rate for this drug compared favourably with that of other single agents reported. All but two patients showed a degree of response to treatment and 24 of 47 patients showed a true objective response to treatment. The overall median survival of these patients was 225 days and localized disease 278 days. The quality of survival was such that responders lived relatively normal lives up to the latter stages of their disease. The majority of patients had a marked response in performance status, 37 out of 47 showing an improvement. Three patients are alive and well at more than 27 months. In all cases the side effects were minimal. Alopecia was common and reversible haematological complications occurred. Severe toxicity was not encountered and the drug was well tolerated with supportive antiemetic therapy at onset of treatment.