Comparison of GP and NP Regimen in Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective To evaluate and compare the efficacy and toxicity between combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin(GP) and combination of navelbine and cisplatin(NP) in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Eighty patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were enrolled into the study, with 41 patients in GP group and 39 in NP group. Patients' characteristics were similar between the two groups. They were given gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m2, or navelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin 30 mg/m2 on days 1~3. The chemotherapy was repeated every 3 weeks as a cycle. Results An objective response rate of 41.5% was observed in GP arm versus 38.5% in NP arm (P0.05). The 1-year survival rate was 36.6% in GP compared to 35.9% in NP (P0.05). The median survival duration was 9.4 months for GP arm and 8.9 months for NP arm. Myelosuppression was the major dose-limiting toxicity. The incidence of grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ leukopenia was significantly higher in the NP group than that in GP group (P0.05), while grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ thrombocytopenia occurred more frequently in the GP group than that in NP group (P0.05).Conclusion The GP combination is as equally active and well tolerated as the NP combination in the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC.