Headlines:

Gemcitabine - vinorelbine regimen

Lung Cancer News     Erlotinib (Tarceva) extends survival in advanced lung cancer   send to a friend   printer friendly version       Lung Cancer           - Introduction - Causes - Clinical picture - Diagnosis - Pathology - Staging - Treatment

Abstract: Phase I/II study of gemcitabine plus vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy of non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose of gemcitabine when combined with a fixed dose of vinorelbine in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate in a phase II trial the activity of this combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were treated with vinorelbine at fixed dose of 30 mg/m(2) intravenously and gemcitabine at increasing dose levels from 800 to 1,500 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. RESULTS: In phase I, dose-limiting toxicity occurred at the dosage of 1,500 mg/m(2) gemcitabine, with three of five patients developing grade 4 thrombocytopenia. In phase II, with gemcitabine at 1,200 mg/m(2), 19 (36%) of 52 assessable patients responded. Objective response was observed in 11 (39%) of 28 patients with stage IIIB disease and in eight (33%) of 24 patients with stage IV. The median time to progression was 29 weeks (range, 2 to 41 weeks; 35 weeks and 16 weeks for stages IIIB and IV, respectively), and median survival was 54 weeks (range, 2 to 84+ weeks; 63 weeks and 42 weeks for stages IIIB and IV, respectively). One-year survival was 64% for patients with stage IIIB disease and 29% for those with stage IV. Clinical benefit response was observed in 29 (59%) of 49 assessable patients. Grade 4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were uncommon (6% and 8% of cases, respectively); however, grade 3/4 leukothrombocytopenia occurred more frequently in patients aged more than 70 years (52% and 24%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The combination of vinorelbine and gemcitabine is effective and tolerable in the treatment of NSCLC, thus deserving randomized trials with cisplatin combination regimens.

References

Lorusso V, Carpagnano F, Frasci G, Panza N, Di Rienzo G, Cisternino ML, Napoli G, Orlando S, Cinieri S, Brunetti C, Palazzo S, De Lena M. Phase I/II study of gemcitabine plus vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy of non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2000 Jan;18(2):405-11.

		Are you a doctor or a nurse? Do you want to join the Doctors Lounge online medical community? Participate in editorial activities (publish, peer review, edit) and give a helping hand to the largest online community of patients. Click on the link below to see the requirements: Doctors Lounge Membership Application

send to a friend printer friendly version

The Oncology Discussion Board     Breast Cancer Topics       Colon and Rectal Cancers Topics       Lung Cancer Topics The Oncology Articles