Small cell carcinoma of the lung: clinical and cytomorphological studies in relation to its response to chemotherapy
Hattori, S.; Matsuda, M.; Ikegami, H.; Horai, T.; Takenaga, A.
Gan 68(3): 321-331
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-450X PMID: 199519 Document Number: 113559
To clarify the relationship between histological subtypes of small cell carcinoma and the degree of their response to chemotherapy, 58 cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung were studied. Cyclophosphamide, vincristine and 5-fluorouracil were administered intravenously. Fifty percent survival of small cell carcinoma patients was the longest in the stage I group and shortest in the stage III group, regardless of secondary treatment. Fifty percent survival was longest in the group responding markedly to initial chemotherapy and shortest in the nonresponding group, regardless of clinical stage. Chemotherapy was effective in the lymphocyte-like subtype according to the WHO histological classification, fusiform cell type and polygonal cell type, in that decreasing order. Different ultrastructural findings were observed in cases in the responding group and the nonresponding group. Noteworthy findings were marked irregularity in nuclear shape, irregular distribution of abundant condensed chromatin, many perichromatin granules and abundant nucleolus associated chromatin in the nonresponding group. Although almost all small cell carcinoma contained neurosecretory granules, granules were few in the nonresponding group.