Sequential hemibody and local irradiation with combination chemotherapy for small cell lung carcinoma: a preliminary analysis.

Sequential hemibody irradiation (SHB) was integrated with combination chemotherapy and local irradiation (LRT) in the induction and consolidation phases of a therapeutic protocol for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Forty-one previously untreated patients were entered into this program. Among 38 evaluable patients (20 with limited disease [LD] and 18 with extensive disease [ED], the overall response rate was 63% (90% in LD and 33% in ED patients). The estimated overall survival is 8.1 months. The major toxicity has been myelosuppression--especially thrombocytopenia. The frequency of previously described "acute radiation syndromes" and radiation pneumonitis associated with hemibody irradiation have been substantially decreased at the current dosage with premedication and shielding techniques. The integration of SHB as a systemic therapy with combination chemotherapy and LRT is a feasible program for sequential administration of non-cross-resistant agents in SCLC and may be beneficial in patients with limited disease.