Irinotecan and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• •* Previously untreated metastatic or extensive disease
• •* Malignant pleural effusion or multifocal lung disease is considered metastatic or extensive disease
• •* Prior radiotherapy allowed
• •* Recurrent disease
• •* Limited, metastatic, or extensive disease
• •* Relapsed after prior chemotherapy, excluding irinotecan hydrochloride
• •* At least 90 days since prior chemotherapy
• •Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 1 cm by physical examination or radiographic techniques
• •Known brain metastases allowed
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •ECOG performance status 0-2
• •Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• •White Blood Cells \> 3,000/mm³
• •Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• •Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• •Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
• •Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• •SGOT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
• •No medical disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study treatment
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 10 days since prior radiotherapy (including brain)
• •No prior irinotecan hydrochloride
• •At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent anticonvulsants
• •No concurrent radiotherapy