Objective:To investigate the benefit of second-line chemotherapy for sensitive or refractory small cell lung cancer after primary treatment with platinum and etoposide.Methods:From January 2004 to January 2009

54 patients were treated with second-line chemotherapy:26 patients with sensitive(S) disease(recurred > 3 months after first-line chemotherapy) and 28 patients with refractory(R) disease(recurred < 3 months after first-line chemotherapy).Patients with R disease or S disease but failed < 6 months after first-line chemotherapy received paclitaxel or docetaxel or irinotecan

and patients with S disease and failed > 6 months after first-line chemotherapy were retreated with the same regimen.Results:54 patients received second-line chemotherapy.The response rate to second-line chemotherapy was 30.8% in S group

7.1% in R group(P=0.009)

and 18.5% for the whole group.The medium times for progression(mTTP) were 24.5 weeks in S group

15.8 weeks in R group

and 20.2 weeks for all patients(P=0.001).The medium survivals were 13.0 months in S group

9.0 months in R group(P=0.003)

and 11.5 months for all patients.Myelosuppression was the most commonly observed adverse effect.Grade 3 /4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia accounted for 34.6% and 15.4%

respectively

in S group

39.3% and 17.9%

respectively

in R group.There was not significant difference in side effect between S and R group.Conclusion:Second-line chemotherapy for relapsed SCLC patients after platinum compound etoposide is clinically effective.Patients with S disease had higher response rate and a longer survival time than the patients with R disease.