[Feasibility and response of gemcitabine and carboplatin biweekly combination chemotherapy for patients with postoperative recurrence non-small cell lung cancer].

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), the standard treatment is chemotherapy with platinum doublet. Gemcitabine (GEM)is one of the major drugs administered in combination with platinum. We studied the feasibility and response of GEM and Carboplatin(CBDCA)biweekly combination chemotherapy for patients with / postoperative recurrence NSCLC. METHOD: Patients received GEM(1,000 mg/m(2))over 30 minutes and CBDCA(AUC =3)over 60 minutes intravenously on day 1 biweekly. Response was evaluated with RECIST. RESULT: Between April 2005 and December 2006 thirteen patients with PS 0 or 1 were entered in the study. All patients received 4 or more cycles. Eight patients received 8 cycles. Of them, only two patients required dose-reduction for hematologic toxicity. / Grade 3/4 hematologic or non-hematologic toxicities and more than grade 2 thrombocytopenia did not occur in any patients. The overall response rate was 20%. SD was seen in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: GEM and CBDCA biweekly combination chemotherapy is a well-tolerated regimen with promising activity against NSCLC.