Front-line paclitaxel/cisplatin-based chemotherapy in brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Paclitaxel-cisplatin is considered to be a standard therapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of this combination with vinorelbine or gemcitabine as front-line therapy in brain metastases from NSCLC.


METHODS
Twenty-six chemotherapy-naive patients with an ECOG performance status of 0-2 were treated with paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2)) on day 1, cisplatin (120 mg/m(2)) on day 1, and either vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 15 or gemcitabine (800 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 8. Whole-brain irradiation was offered early in case of progression and later as consolidation treatment.


RESULTS
All patients were evaluated for toxicity and 25 for response. An intracranial response rate was observed in 38% of the patients (95% CI: 22-59%). WHO grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 31 and 4% of the patients, respectively. There was one treatment-related death. Non-hematological toxicities were mild. After a median follow-up of 46 months, the median overall survival for all patients was 21.4 weeks and the median time to progression was 12.8 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel and cisplatin combined with vinorelbine or gemcitabine as front-line therapy in brain metastases seem to achieve responses similar to those for extracranial disease, suggesting a meaningful role in this setting.
Cortes
Javier
J
Department of Oncology and Radiation Oncology, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Rodriguez
Javier
J
Aramendia
Jose Manuel
JM
Salgado
Esteban
E
Gurpide
Alfonso
A
Garcia-Foncillas
Jesus
J
Aristu
Jose Javier
JJ
Claver
Angela
A
Bosch
Ana
A
Lopez-Picazo
Jose Maria
JM
Martin-Algarra
Salvador
S
Brugarolas
Antonio
A
Calvo
Emiliano
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine