NEW DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES: SOMATOSTATIN ANALOGS. Part II 

Minerva Endocrinologica 2001 December;26(4):239-46

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

New therapeutic prospects in microcytoma

Lorusso V., Crucitta E.

The therapeutic efforts of the past thirty years have been directed at improving the scant prognosis of patients suffering from microcytoma (SCLC) using a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Studies have shown that the longest survival rates are achieved when radiotherapy is administered concomitantly with chemotherapy. No clear correlation has been identified between the 3-year disease-free survival rate and the type of chemotherapy used. The standard treatment for patients suffering from SCLC is currently polychemotherapy using protocols with cisplatin, with or without radiotherapy. Among the new protocols that have been proposed, an increase in dose intensity, weekly therapy and alternating chemotherapy appear to give the most promising results, even if no studies have so far actually demonstrated their ability to improve results.