title: [Combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients with locally advanced (stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC were enrolled into the study. The patients received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² on days l, 8 and 15, and carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, with 28 days as a cycle. Each patient received at least two cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 41 patients, 2 cases got complete response, 18 got partial response, 15 had stable disease, and 6 had progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 48.8%. The response rate was 55.6% (10/18) in the initial patients, and 43.5% (10/23) in the retreated patients (P > 0.05). The median survival duration was 11.8 months. The 1-year survival rate was 49%. There were 29 patients whose KPS score increased. The main toxicities were leukopenia (incidence of 34.1% for grade III+IV) and thrombocytopenia (incidence of 29.3% for grade III+IV).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin is a feasible, well-tolerated and active scheme in either first-line or second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530031, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Yongzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Changjie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiangping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang