ABSTRACT
Fourteen patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) previously treated with one or two chemotherapy regimens were entered in this study. 5-Fluorouracil 370 mg/m2 or 300 mg/m2 was given with folinic acid 200 mg/m2 by i.v. rapid infusion on days 1 through 5. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. There were no objective responses. One patient had stable disease for 47 weeks. The overall median survival duration was 23 weeks. Toxicity was comparable to that seen in other studies of 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Leucovorin/administration & dosage , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Small Cell/mortality , Female , Fluorouracil/adverse effects , Humans , Leucovorin/adverse effects , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality , Remission Induction , Survival RateABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Standard therapy for febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy has consisted of intravenous antibiotic until resolution of both fever and neutropenia. We attempted to shorten the hospital stay by discontinuing intravenous antibiotics in blood culture negative patients who remained clinically stable and afebrile for 48 hours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Febrile neutropenic admissions of non-leukemic patients were reviewed. They were divided by three consecutive six month intervals into Group 1 (prior to initiation of the policy), Group 2 (after the policy was instituted), and Group 3 (to monitor the implementation of the policy after the initial six months). RESULTS: There were 134 admissions for neutropenic fever. Median duration of intravenous antibiotic for Group 1 was 7 days (95% Confidence Interval 6-9). It was significantly decreased to 5 days (4-6) and 4 days (3-5) for Groups 2 and 3 respectively (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001). Median duration of hospital stay for Group 1 was 10 days (7-13). It was also significantly decreased to 7 (5-8) and 6 days (5-7) for Groups 2 and 3 respectively (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Early discontinuation of intravenous antibiotics in patients with negative blood culture who remain afebrile and clinically stable for 48 hours results in shorter duration of hospital stay with potential for reduction in hospital costs.