Results of a clinical multicentric randomized phase-ii study of nonsmall cell lung-cancer treated with vinorelbine Cisplatin versus vinorelbine alone.

From July 1992 to December 1993, 62 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were admitted to a multicentric randomized study. The patients were treated with vinorelbine (V) alone at a dose of 25 mg/m(2)/i.v. weekly or with V at a dose of 25 mg/m(2)/i.v. on day 1 and 8 plus cisplatin at a dose of 80 mg/m(2)/i.v. on day 1 every 3-4 weeks (VP). An objective response was observed in 42% of patients treated with VP versus 12.5% of those treated with vinorelbine alone (p=0.038). There was no significant difference in the median survival duration between the two groups (38 versus 30 weeks for VP and V, respectively). Toxicity was tolerable but more severe in the VP regimen. These data suggest that V is an active agent in NSCLC and that the VP regimen may yield results comparable to other cisplatin combinations for treatment of these tumors.

A randomized trial of cefepime and ceftazidime for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

We compared the effectiveness and safety of ceftazidime and cefepime in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia. The 148 enrolled patients received 2 g ceftazidime three times daily or 2 g cefepime twice daily. The clinical success rate was the same for both drugs. Even the microbiological effectiveness was similar. Both drug regimens were well tolerated. We conclude that 2 g ceftazidime three times daily were as effective as 2 g cefepime twice daily for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients. The cost of ceftazidime treatment was, however, higher than the cost of cefepime treatment.