Role of intravenous hyperalimentation as an adjunct to intensive chemotherapy for small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.

Forty-nine patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (23 limited and 26 extensive disease) received their first two of three courses of intensive remission induction chemotherapy with (21 patients) or without (28 patients) intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH). The chemotherapy included six remission induction courses with ECHO (epipodophyllotoxin VP-16-213, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin), followed by six courses of maintenance with PRIME (procarbazine, ifosfamide, methotrexate). Prophylactic brain irradiation (3000 r/2 weeks) was given to all patients and those with limited disease received chest irradiation (5000 r/5 weeks) at the completion of ECHO. Thus far, all 30 patients who have completed three courses of ECHO have responded with complete (70% CR) or partial (30% PR) remissions. The CR rate was higher for patients receiving IVH (85% vs 59%, P = 0.25). Myelosuppression was pronounced and predominantly in the form of neutropenia. Median lowest neutrophil counts were zero during each of the three courses of ECHO and lasted a median of 5 days at levels less than 500/mm3. Major infections occurred in 21% of courses. The administration of IVH did not ameliorate the hematologic, gastrointestinal, and infectious morbidity of ECHO chemotherapy. However, it resulted in preservation of body weight (P less than 0.01) and improved skin reactivity to a battery of six skin antigens (P = 0.03). The administration of intensive therapy with ECHO +/- IVH was well tolerated and resulted in high CR rates in patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. The administration of IVH was most helpful in preventing severe weight loss and augmenting response to a battery of skin antigens. The long term survival effects of these observations are yet to be determined.