Phase II study of cisplatin-combined schedules as second-line chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Anticancer Res. 2005 Jul-Aug;25(4):2991-6.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cisplatin- (CDDP) combined chemotherapy in non-cisplatin pretreated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The second cytotoxic drug administered was either etoposide or gemcitabine. First-line treatment was based on paclitaxel combined with either carboplatin or vinorelbine.

Patients and methods: Seventy-eight patients with histologically- or cytologically- confirmed NSCLC, having failed front-line treatment, were enrolled. All patients received 80 mg/m2 of cisplatin as second-line treatment, on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks; in 48 patients the second agent was etoposide (120 mg/m2) on days 1, 2 and 3, repeated every 3 weeks and in 30 patients 1 g/m2 of gemcitabine on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks.

Results: All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. No complete responses were observed. Thirteen (16.67%) patients achieved partial response, 42 (53.85%) stable disease and 23 (29.49%) had disease progression. The median duration of response was 4 months (range 2-8+ months), median time to tumor progression (TTP) 5 months (range 2-9 months) and median survival time after starting second-line chemotherapy, 6 months (range 2-9+ months). Toxicity was acceptable: 9 patients presented with nephrotoxicity (11.54%) and 13 (16.67%) with grade 3-4 neutropenia.

Conclusion: The cisplatin combination as second-line treatment in patients with NSCLC exhibited a notable degree of activity and tumor growth control was evidenced by the 16.67% partial response and 53.85% disease stability.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Deoxycytidine
  • Etoposide
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cisplatin
  • Gemcitabine