Gemcitabine and vinorelbine as second-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer after treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the activity and feasibility of combination therapy of gemcitabine and vinorelbine for patients with advanced NSCLC after the failure of initial treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum.


METHODS
From March 2000 to August 2002, 38 evaluable patients (median age 55 years) with NSCLC, who had failed to recover after treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum, received vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2) i.v.) followed by gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) i.v.), both being administered on days 1 and 8 and recycled every 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Objective responses were as follows: partial response, 8/38 [21%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8-23%]; and stable disease, 21/38 (55%). Median time to progression was 3.9 months and the median overall survival was 8.1 months. Grades III and IV neutropenia were seen in 17 and 11% of patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine is active and highly tolerable as a second-line therapy for NSCLC.
Park
Yeon Hee
YH
Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea. yhpark@kcch.re.kr
Lee
Jae Cheol
JC
Kim
Cheol Hyeon
CH
Ryoo
Baek-Yeol
BY
Kim
Heung Tae
HT
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010984:Platinum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D010984:Platinum; D014747:Vinblastine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine