Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients Who Have Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically or cytologically proven extensive stage small cell lung cancer, not previously treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy except for symptomatic brain metastases
• •Measurable or evaluable disease
• •* Ascites, pleural effusions, osteolytic and osteoblastic bone metastases are not measurable or evaluable
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •Over 18
• •Performance status:
• •ECOG 0-3
• •Life expectancy:
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic:
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (unless due to liver metastases)
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• •Cardiovascular:
• •No cardiac failure or rhythm disturbances requiring medication
• •Other:
• •No history of hypersensitivity to castor oil
• •No active uncontrolled infection
• •No nonmalignant disease presenting a poor medical risk
• •Not pregnant
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after the study
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •No concurrent immunotherapy
• •Chemotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •No other concurrent chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •No concurrent hormonal therapy
• •Radiotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Palliative radiotherapy allowed (indicator lesion should be outside of irradiated field)
• •Surgery:
• •Not specified