Carcinoma pulmonar de pequenas células Quimioterapia como tratamento da doença disseminada primária e recidivante

ABSTRACTSmall Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) accounts for between 17% and 25% of all lung cancers. It’s characterised by rapid tumor growth, early metastatic dissemination and important response to chemotherapy. SCLC has been shown relatively chemosensitive, high clinical response rates and a significant prolongation of median survival in conjunction with clear improvements in the quality of life. Long-term survival and cure are rares.Untreated SCLC is a lethal disease with the median survival of patients between 5 weeks in extensive stage and 12 weeks in limited stage. With active treatment the median survival is dramatically improved. The average survival at five years is 10% for limited stage and 1% for extensive stage.For Limited Stage Disease (60% to 70% SCLC) the main option therapeutic is chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For Extensive Stage Disease (30% to 40% SCLC) chemotherapy is the therapeutic.In this article we give a review of some questions and answers that show a significant survival benefit of chemotherapy in extensive stage SCLC.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2002; VIII(4): 341-34