UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: To study the efficacy, toxicities and time to response of paclitaxel plus cisplatin or gemcitabine plus cisplatin in the second line treatment of non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).

Methods: Fifty-one patients with advanced NSCLC who failed first line chemotherapy, were randomized to receive either paclitaxel 135mg/m2 day 1 plus cisplatin 40mg/m2 days 1-3, every 21 days( arm A, 26 patients) or gemcitabine 1000mg/m2, days 1, 8 and 15 plus cisplatin 40mg/m2, days 1-3, every 28 days(arm B, 25 patients). The patients were evaluated for response after every two cycles of treatment.

Results: Five out of 26 patients in arm A achieved partial response (19.2%) while 4 out of 25 patients in arm B achieved partial response(16%), P > 0.05. In addition, in arm A, 15 patients had stable disease and 6 patients progressed. In arm B, 13 patients had stable disease and 8 patients progressed. No complete response observed. The time to response for arm A was shorter than arm B. Both groups experienced similar gastrointestinal toxicities and myelosuppression.