The optimal regimen for concurrent therapy has not been proven, but many consider the regimen published by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) to represent a reasonable choice:
Two cycles of concurrent cisplatin (50 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 29, and 36) plus etoposide (50 mg/m2 daily on days 1 to 5, and 29 to 33) with once daily chest radiotherapy (45 Gy)
In patients without progressive disease, completion of chest RT to 61 Gy
Two further cycles of cisplatin plus etoposide
In a multicenter phase II trial of 50 patients with stage IIIB disease who were followed for an average of 52 months, this regimen was complicated by grade 4 neutropenia in 32 percent, and grade 3 or 4 esophagitis in 12 and 8 percent, respectively. The 3 and 5-year survival rates were 17 & 15%.
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