Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin HCL (Caelyx) in combination with Sandostatin LAR as salvage therapy in patients with small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (Caelyx) combined with Sandostatin LAR as salvage treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in platinum-pretreated patients.

Patients and methods: Nine pretreated patients (median age 53.5 years, PS: 0-1) with histologically confirmed SCLC were treated with Caelyx 40 mg/m2 (i.v.) on day 1 and Sandostatin LAR 30 mg (i.m.) on day 1 every 28 days. Four (44%) out of the nine patients had received two prior regimens and five (55%) were refractory to front-line chemotherapy.

Results: No complete or partial responses were observed. Disease stabilization was obtained in two (22%) patients. The median overall survival was 18.7 months and the median time to progression was 9.1 months.

Conclusion: The combination of Caelyx and Sandostatin LAR was inactive as salvage treatment in this poor prognosis group of patients with relapsed SCLC. However, the combination would merit further investigation in patients pretreated with one prior regimen.