Long-term survival of “extensive” small cell lung cancer by combined treatment modalities

Abstract Twenty-three patients with extensive small cell lung cancer (SCLC) received chemoradio-immunotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine in the period 1984–1987. Three patients have been disease-free for more than two years and have survived for 5+–7+ years, yielding a long-term survival rate of 13% (confidence interval 3–33%). Extensive stage SCLC is thus by no means incurable and the more than 2 year short-interval combination chemotherapy is apparently the key in raising the 5-year survival rate. Traditional Chinese medicine, immunotherapy and other adjuvant therapies might also play important parts in reducing the side effect of chemotherapy.