Cancer
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized phase 2 study of subcutaneous amifostine versus epoetin-alpha given 3 times weekly during concurrent chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy for limited-disease small cell lung cancer.
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of amifostine and epoetin-alpha in reducing severe toxicities during concurrent chemo-hyperfractionated radiotherapy (CCRT) for limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). ⋯ Although amifostine administered 3 times weekly during CCRT did not significantly reduce severe toxicities, epoetin-alpha was effective in preventing severe anemia during CCRT in patients with LD-SCLC. Other radioprotective strategies to minimize severe toxicities should be investigated.