The aim of this study was to use pharmacokinetic analysis to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of combined chemotherapy with carboplatin (CBDCA) and etoposide (ETP) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Three SCLC patients with chronic renal failure undergoing HD were treated with CBDCA (300 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and ETP (50 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 3, followed by HD 1 h after completing the administration of anticancer agents on each day. The pharmacokinetic analysis of CBDCA and ETP was planned for at least the first two courses of the chemotherapy in each patient.

Two complete responses and one partial response were achieved in the three patients. Two patients experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia and required blood transfusion due to thrombocytopenia and anemia. Non-hematological toxicities were moderate. The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that the platinum and the ETP concentrations in the plasma were similar to those in patients with normal renal function during the first 24 h, while the platinum still remained in the plasma for over 90 h.

Chemotherapy with CBDCA (300 mg/m(2) on day 1) and ETP (50 mg/m(2) on day 1, 3) as used in the present study may be a suitable regimen for SCLC patients undergoing HD, although careful attention should be given to hematological toxicities.