title: Phase II study of cisplatin-combined schedules as second-line chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marinos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veslemes
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Georgatou
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giamboudakis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katis
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine