A trial looking at irinotecan and carboplatin for small cell lung cancer
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This trial looked at carboplatin, with different doses of irinotecan, for people with extensive small cell lung cancer.
Doctors usually treat small cell lung cancer with 2 chemotherapy drugs called etoposide and either cisplatin or carboplatin. Lung cancer often responds well to these drugs, but unfortunately it usually comes back later.
We know from research that irinotecan may also help people with small cell lung cancer. Doctors thought the combination of irinotecan and carboplatin might have been a better treatment for small cell lung cancer.
The aims of this trial were to find out
- The best dose of irinotecan to give with carboplatin
- What the side effects of this drug combination were
- How well this treatment worked
Summary of results
The trial team found that the combination of carboplatin and irinotecan did work well for people with extensive small cell lung cancer.
This was a phase 1 trial. It recruited 20 people. Everyone had carboplatin and irinotecan. The dose of carboplatin remained the same. The first few people were given a small dose of irinotecan. As they didn’t have any bad side effects the next few had a higher dose. And so on, until the researcher found the biggest dose they could safely give.
After the people in the trial had finished their treatment, the researchers measured their cancer on a scan. They found that in
- 1 person the cancer was completely gone – a
complete response - 14 people the cancer had shrunk – a
partial response - 2 people the cancer had stayed the same –
stable disease - 3 people the cancer had continued to grow
The average amount of time it took for the cancer to start growing again was 6 months. The overall average amount of time people lived after treatment was just over 9 months. These results are similar to what doctors would expect for treatment of this disease.
The worst side effects reported were diarrhoea and a drop in blood cells causing an increased risk of infection.
The researchers concluded that the combination of carboplatin and irinotecan was safe to be used in further clinical trials for people with extensive small cell lung cancer. They recommended drug doses to be used in a phase 2 trial.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Prof Christian Ottensmeier
Supported by
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
University of Southampton
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040