High response of second-line chemotherapy with pemetrexed or gemcitabine combined with carboplatin in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer experiencing progression following 6 months after concluding platinum-based chemotherapy.
Because of improved therapeutic results after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), second-line chemotherapy may be considered for a growing number of patients. Approximately, 10% of patients have an interval time after concluding first-line platinum-based chemotherapy greater than 6 months. These patients may achieve high tumor responses when platinum is again used in second-line treatment. Twenty-three patients experiencing progression following 6 months after concluding platinum-based chemotherapy were managed with second-line treatment with carboplatin combined with gemcitabine or pemetrexed. Overall response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) after initiation of second-line treatment were calculated for all patients. Median PFS after first-line treatment was 12.6 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 10.4-14.7 months). Partial response was achieved in 7 of 23 patients, resulting in an overall response of 30.4% (95% CI, 11.6-49.0). Following initiation of second-line chemotherapy, median PFS was 5.9 months (95% CI, 1-10.9 months) and median OS was 12.5 months (95% CI, 3.5-21.5 months). The 1-year survival rate for all patients was 61.0% (95% CI, 29.5-82.0). Adding these results to those of the 10 previously published trials, 75 of 326 patients, 23%, (95% CI, 18.7-27.3) presented an overall response with the use of second-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The use of platinum combinations as second-line chemotherapy seems to have a place in the management of patients with advanced NSCLC, especially those with an interval time to progression greater than 6 months.
Arrieta
Oscar
O
Department of Medical Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av San Fernando No 22, Col Sección XVI, Deleg. Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico. ogar@servidor.unam.mx
Villarreal-Garza
Cynthia
C
Pachuca
Digna
D
Michel Ortega
Rosa M
RM
Martinez-Barrera
Luis
L
Flores-Estrada
Diana
D
Astorga
Alma
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D006147:Guanine; D016190:Carboplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine