title: An overview of current results with the gemcitabine and docetaxel combination as initial and salvage chemotherapy regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The activity of single-agent docetaxel in patients with platinum pretreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been established in two recent large randomized phase III trials, either against best supportive care or versus single-agent vinorelbine/ifosfamide. Moreover, single-agent gemcitabine has demonstrated significant activity and clinical benefit in platinum- and paclitaxel-pretreated advanced NSCLC. Combination regimens employing these two agents in various doses and schedules have recently been initiated. The gemcitabine/docetaxel combination with or without G-CSF support as salvage therapy of NSCLC pre-treated with platinum+/-paclitaxel-based regimens has been evaluated in four recently published phase II clinical studies and has been shown to represent a tolerable and active regimen in this setting, yielding a 10-33% response rate, thus, warranting randomized comparisons to single-agent gemcitabine or docetaxel, drugs currently recommended in second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Second Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Metaxa Memorial Hospital, Piraeus, Greece. ckosm@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mylonakis
authors.forename: Haralambos P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kalofonos
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine