Table 2. Randomised trials for the treatment of relapsed SCLC.

					Results
					Response rate (%)
Authors	Study type	Regimen	Schedule	Patients (n)	ORR	CR	PR	SD	Median TTP (weeks)	Median survival (weeks)
von Pawel et al (1999)	Randomised Phase II	CAV vs topotecan	Cyclophosphamide 1000 mg m–2 + doxorubicin 45 mg m–2 + vincristine 2 mg m–2, day 1, q3w	104	18.3	1	18	12	—	24.7
			IV topotecan: 1.5 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	107	24.3	0	26	21	—	25.0
von Pawel et al (2001)	Randomised Phase II	Oral topotecan vs IV topotecan	Oral topotecan: 2.3 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	52	23	2	21	19	14.9	32
			IV topotecan: 1.5 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	54	15	4	11	30	13.1	25
Eckardt (2007)	Randomised Phase III	Oral topotecan vs IV topotecan	Oral topotecan: 2.3 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	153	18	—	—	18	—	33
			IV topotecan: 1.5 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	151	22	—	—	23	—	35
O’Brien et al (2006)	Randomised Phase III	Oral topotecan + BSC vs BSC alone	Oral topotecan: 2.3 mg m–2, days 1–5, q3w	71	7	0	7	44	16.3	25.9
			BSC alone	70	—	—	—	—	—	13.9

Abbreviations: ORR=overall response rate; CR=complete response; PR=partial response; SD=stable disease; TTP=time to progression; CAV=cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and vincristine; BSC=best supportive care; SCLC=small cell ling cancer.