title: Global Lung Oncology Branch trial 3 (GLOB3): final results of a randomised multinational phase III study alternating oral and i.v. vinorelbine plus cisplatin versus docetaxel plus cisplatin as first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study compared the efficacy of a first-line treatment with day 1 i.v. vinorelbine (NVBiv) and day 8 oral vinorelbine (NVBo) versus docetaxel (DCT) in a cisplatin-based combination in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, in terms of time to treatment failure (TTF), overall response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), tolerance and quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin 80 mg/m2 with NVBiv 30 mg/m2 on day 1 and NVBo 80 mg/m2 on day 8 every 3 weeks, after a first cycle of NVBiv 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and NVBo 60 mg/m2 on day 8 (arm A) or cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and DCT 75 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks (arm B), for a maximum of six cycles in both arms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2 February 2004 to 1 January 2006, 390 patients were entered in a randomised study and 381 were treated. The patient characteristics are as follows (arms A/B): metastatic (%) 80.5/84.8; patients with three or more organs involved (%) 45.3/40.8; median age 59.4/62.1 years; male 139/146; squamous (%) 34.2/33.5; adenocarcinoma (%) 41.6/39.3; median TTF (arms A/B in months) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 3.2 (3.0-4.2), 4.1 (3.4-4.5) (P = 0.19); overall response (arms A/B) (95% CI): 27.4% (21.2% to 34.2%), 27.2% (21.0% to 34.2%); median PFS (arms A/B in months) (95% CI): 4.9 (4.4-5.9), 5.1 (4.3-6.1) (P = 0.99) and median OS (arms A/B in months) (95% CI): 9.9 (8.4-11.6), 9.8 (8.8-11.5) (P = 0.58). The median survival for squamous histology was 8.87/9.82 months and for adenocarcinoma 11.73/11.60 months for arms A and B, respectively. Main haematological toxicity was grade 3-4 neutropenia: 24.4% (arm A) and 28.8% (arm B). QoL as measured by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale was similar in both arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both arms provided similar efficacy in terms of response, time-related parameters and QoL, with an acceptable tolerance profile. In the current Global Lung Oncology Branch trial 3, NVBo was shown to be effective as a substitute for the i.v. formulation. This can relieve the burden of the i.v. injection on day 8 and can optimise the hospital's resources and improve patient convenience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Sciences, National Cancer Centre, Singapore. tanenghuat123@gmail.com
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grodzki
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gatzemeier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zatloukal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aitini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carteni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riska
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abratt
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine