For two decades, it was assumed that SCLC is highly sensitive to both radio- and chemotherapy. Eventually, every drug on the books was tried; overall, everything disappointed. Recent improvements in supportive care with hematopoietic growth factors and peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) allow for much higher levels of chemotherapeutics. The results were not spectacular, but in a substantial group of patients, complete remission was achieved in 39% of patients; early intensification of therapy was even better, with 51.5% remission in limited disease.
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