Result of phase III trial of amrubicin/cisplatin versus etoposide/cisplatin as first-line treatment for extensive small cell lung cancer.

7507 Background: Etoposide combined with cisplatin (EP) has been the first-line chemotherapy regimen for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for >20 years; however, a more effective regimen has been recommended by many clinical oncologists. Thus, we here present our preliminary results of a phase III clinical trial of the novel drug amrubicin in combination with cisplatin (AP) in comparison to EP in patients with previously untreated extensive SCLC (ED-SCLC). Methods: A total of 299 previously untreated ED-SCLC patients were randomized (ratio, 1:1) into two treatment groups: (1) the AP group (n = 149): 4–6 cycles of amrubicin (40 mg/m2/day on days 1–3) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2/day on day 1) and (2) the EP group (n = 150): 4–6 cycles of etoposide (100 mg/m2/day on days 1–3) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2/day on day 1 every 21 days). Patients were evaluated for therapy response and electrocardiography results every 2 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free...