Fixed-dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a 4-week schedule of a fixed dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
In this study, 48 patients with previously untreated NSCLC were given combination chemotherapy that consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) (10 mg/m(2)/min fixed dose rate infusion) and cisplatin 25 mg/m(2), and both drugs were given weekly on days 1, 8 and 15.


RESULTS
A partial response and stable disease were observed in 20 patients (41.7%, 95% CI; 27.8-55.6%) and 12 patients (25.0%), respectively. The overall median survival was 10.30 months (range: 7.85-12.74 months). Major toxicities included neutropenia (grade 3 to 4, 29.2%) and infection (grade 3 to 4, 27.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that this regimen is a feasible treatment for elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable NSCLC. Nevertheless, the morbidity due to myelosuppression and infection following this treatment should be carefully considered.
Lee
Gyeong-Won
GW
Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea.
Kang
Myung-Hee
MH
Kim
Hoon-Gu
HG
Kang
Jung Hun
JH
Kim
Seok Hyun
SH
Cho
Yu Ji
YJ
Jeong
Yi Yeong
YY
Kim
Ho-Cheol
HC
Lee
Jong Duk
JD
Hwang
Young Sil
YS
Kim
Hye Jung
HJ
Lee
Jong-Seok
JS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine