title: Retrospective analysis of third-line and fourth-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of third-line and further-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the clinical outcome of third- and fourth-line chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC in consecutive patients who received first-line chemotherapy at our institute between July 2002 and June 2006. From a hospital-based registry, the following data were extracted: (a) patient characteristics, (b) type of chemotherapeutic agents, and (c) objective response and survival data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 599 patients were included in this analysis. Overall, 69.3%, 38.4%, 17.7%, and 6.0% of the patients received second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-line chemotherapy, respectively. Significant differences in age (P < .0001), performance status at the start of first-line chemotherapy (P < .0001), and histology (P = .0175) were observed between patients who received third-line chemotherapy and those who did not. Docetaxel, gefitinib, and S-1 were the most frequently used regimens for third- or fourth-line chemotherapy. Five percent of the patients had participated in phase I trials of investigational new drugs. The objective response rates and disease control rates of third- and fourth-line chemotherapy were 17.0% and 34.4% and 11.3% and 24.5%, respectively. The median survival times (95% confidence interval [CI]) from the start of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-line chemotherapy until death were 15.3 months (95% CI, 13.8-16.5 months), 12.8 months (95% CI, 10.7-14.5 months), 12.0 months (95% CI, 9.3-14.2 months), and 9.9 months (95% CI, 8.6-12.0 months), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As many as 38% of patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line chemotherapy could receive third-line chemotherapy. This result emphasizes the need for randomized controlled trials of third-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.
authors: Division of Internal Medicine and Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Asahina
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Sekine
authors: Hidehito
authors: H
authors: Horinouchi
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nokihara
authors: Noboru
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Kubota
authors: Tomohide
authors: T
authors: Tamura
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D011799:Quinazolines; D043823:Taxoids; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D000077143:Docetaxel; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D000077156:Gefitinib