Alternate Paclitaxel-Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel-Vinorelbine Biweekly Administration in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: a Phase II Study

• Published in: Anticancer research 2006-03, Vol.26 (2B), p.1397-1402
• Main Authors: DIMITROULIS, J, TOUBIS, M, GEORGATOU, N, GRIGORATOU, T, KARAINDROS, D, KATIS, K, ANTONIOU, D, MAROSIS, C, ARMENAKI, U, STATHOPOULOS, G. P, GIAMBOUDAKIS, P, VESLEMES, M, MICHALOPOULOU, P, CHRISTOU, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - adverse effects; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Paclitaxel - adverse effects; Patient Compliance; Pneumology; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Vinblastine - administration & dosage; Vinblastine - adverse effects; Vinblastine - analogs & derivatives
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: In the present study, 3 cytotoxic agents were combined as front-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. All 3 drugs have been used in other 2-agent combinations and have been shown to be effective as first-line therapy. Patients and Methods: Sixty-one (53 male, 8 female, median age 65 years old) out of 67 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Eighty percent of the patients were stage IIIB and IV and 20% were inoperable stage IIIA. In order to obviate toxicity as much as possible, paclitaxel 135 mg/m 2 was combined with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m 2 for the first cycle, and 2 weeks later with vinorelbine 25 mg/m 2 , for the second cycle; this alternate schedule was repeated every 2 weeks for 9 cycles. Results: No complete responses were observed; there was a 37.7% partial response rate and stable disease in 31.1% of the patients. The median survival was 13 months and 1-year survival, 53%. Myelotoxicity involved grade 3 neutropenia in 3.3% of the patients and grade 4 in 1.6%. Conclusion: Adverse reactions were few in this alternate administration of paclitaxel-gemcitabine and paclitaxel-vinorelbine in NSCLC patients; in more than half of the patients there was long median and 1-year survival.