Platinum Standard for Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer is Being Questioned

As reported by MedPage Today, platinum regimens caused significantly more nausea, vomiting, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, the investigators found.

"These data suggest nonplatinum chemotherapy regimens have a more advantageous risk-benefit profile," the authors concluded.

"This systematic review highlights the lack of quality-of-life data in trials involving chemotherapy treatment for [small-cell lung cancer]. With poor long-term survival associated with both treatment groups, the issue of the quality of the survival period takes on even more significance," they said.

Only three of more than two dozen studies included in the analysis reported data on quality of life, they added.

Read the rest of the article at MedPage Today.