A trial looking at irinotecan and carboplatin for small cell lung cancer

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