Table 4 Evaluated drugs in relapsed SCLC

Gemcitabine

1250 mg m^–2 days 1, 8; q3w

Hoang et al (2003)

Se, Rs, Re

No response

6.4 months

Limited activity

1000 mg m^–2 days 1, 8, 15; q4w

van der Lee et al (2001)

Rs, Re (76% >1 earlier line)

13%

17 weeks

Modest activity

1000 mg m^–2 days 1, 8, 15 q4w

Masters et al (2003)

Se, Rs, Re

11.9%

7.1 months

Modest activity

Irinotecan

100 mg m^–2 weekly

Masuda et al (1992)

Se, Rs, Re

47%

6.8 months

Active agent

Paclitaxel

175 mg m^–2; q3w

Smit et al (1998)

Rs

29%

100 days

Active agent

200 mg m^–2; q3w

Joos et al (2004)

Rs, Re

20%

4 months

Active agent

Vinorelbine

25 mg m^–2 weekly

Furuse et al (1996)

Se, Rs, Re

12.5%

—

Modest activity

30 mg m^–2 weekly

Jassem et al (1993)

Se

16%

—

Modest activity

Pemetrexed

500 mg m^–2; q3w

Hanna et al (2006b)

Se, Rs

Se: 1 PR

Rs: 1 PR

—

Minimal activity

900 mg m^–2; q3w

Gronberg et al (2008)

Se, Rs

Se: 4.5%

Rs: 2.9%

17.6 weeks

Limited activity

900 mg m^–2; q3w

Socinski et al (2008)

Se, Rs

0.9% (1 PR in Se)

2.5–6.1 months

Minimal activity

Amrubicin

40 mg m^–2 days 1–3; q3w

Onoda et al (2006)

Se, Rs

Se OR: 52%

Rs OR: 50%

Se: 11.6 months

Rs: 10.3 months

Significant activity

45 mg m^–2 days 1–3; q3w

Kato et al (2006)

Se, Rs

Se OR: 50%

Rs OR: 60%

8.8 months

Significant activity

40 mg m^–2 days 1–3; q3w

Kudoh et al (2006)

Se, Rs

OR: 37%

—

Active agent

40 mg m^–2 days 1–3; q3w

Ettinger et al (2008)

Rs, Re

PR: 13/39

—

Active agent

Amrubicin: 40 mg m^–2 days 1–3; q3w

Topotecan: 1 mg m^–2 days 1–5

Inoue et al (2008)

Se, Rs

38% vs 13%

—

Amrubicin may be superior to topotecan

Picoplatin

150 mg m^–2; q3w

Bentzion et al (2007)

Se, Rs, Re

—

28.1 weeks

Compares favourably with other therapeutic options