An acceptable rate of complications in combined doxorubicin-irradiation for small cell carcinoma of the lung: a southwest oncology group study

In the past few years, many reports have appeared in the literature regarding combination chemotherapy and irradiation in patients with carcinoma. Many reports have concentrated on the complications of such therapy. In 1974, the Southwest Oncology Group undertook a protocol combining chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and vincristine) with radiation therapy to the brain and the primary tumor in a sandwich fashion. Of concern in the past was the enhancement of radiation reactions when chemotherapy and irradiation were combined. We have studied the incidence of complications and found them to be within an acceptable range (esophageal, 5%; pulmonary, 2.7%; epithelial, less then 1%). Therefore, we present a treatment regimen which has demonstrated an increase in longevity combined with an acceptable complication rate-the result of careful planning by oncologists of the modalities involved.