Alternating chemotherapy with etoposide plus cisplatin and topotecan plus paclitaxel in patients with untreated, extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma: a phase II trial of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group.

Background: The objective of this study was to test the response rate and toxicity of alternating chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

Methods: Patients with histologically proven, extensive-stage SCLC, with a performance status of 0-2, and who had received no prior chemotherapy were eligible. The design was a two-stage, Phase II, multicenter trial.