title: Alternate paclitaxel-gemcitabine and paclitaxel-vinorelbine biweekly administration in non-small cell lung cancer patients: a phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, 3 cytotoxic agents were combined as front-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. All 3 drugs have been used in other 2-agent combinations and have been shown to be effective as first-line therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one (53 male, 8 female, median age 65 years old) out of 67 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Eighty percent of the patients were stage IIIB and IV and 20% were inoperable stage IIIA. In order to obviate toxicity as much as possible, paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 was combined with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 for the first cycle, and 2 weeks later with vinorelbine 25 mg/m2, for the second cycle; this alternate schedule was repeated every 2 weeks for 9 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complete responses were observed; there was a 37.7% partial response rate and stable disease in 31.1% of the patients. The median survival was 13 months and 1-year survival, 53%. Myelotoxicity involved grade 3 neutropenia in 3.3% of the patients and grade 4 in 1.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adverse reactions were few in this alternate administration of paclitaxel-gemcitabine and paclitaxel-vinorelbine in NSCLC patients; in more than half of the patients there was long median and 1-year survival.
authors.affiliation: Sixth Clinic, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toubis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marosis
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Armenaki
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giamboudakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veslemes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michalopoulou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Georgatou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grigoratou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karaindros
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katis
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* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine