Vinorelbine plus cisplatin versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin in treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) and gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) combinations in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From December 1999 to May 2004, a total of 68 patients with advanced NSCLC were randomized to receive vinorelbine 25mg/m2 on days 1,8 infusion and cisplatin 50mg on days 3,4,5 or gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m~2 on day 1,8 infusion and cisplatin 50mg on days 3,4,5. Both regimens were repeated every 3 weeks. A total of 68 patients (35 patients in group NP, 33 patients in group GP), were enrolled. The median time to progression was 3.2 months for group NP and 3.3 months for group GP. The overall response rate for group NP was 48.6%,with no complete response (CR),48.6% of partial response (PR), 37.1% of stable disease (SD), 14.3% of progression of disease (PD), and the benefit rate was 85.7%,and in group GP, the overall response rate was 45.5%,with 3.0% of CR,42.4% of PR,39.4% of SD, 15.2% of PD,and the benefit rate was 84.8%.The response rate was higher in previously untreated cases than in treated cases (60% vs 33.3% in group NP, and 52.6% vs 35.7% in group GP). The incidences of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were 80% and 22.9% in group NP, and 51.5% and 51.5% in group GP, respectively. Phlebitis (31.4% vs 6.1%) and nausea/vomiting (57.1% vs 45.5%) were more severe in group NP. In conclusion, both NP and GP combined chemotherapy produce similar efficacy and are well tolerated in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.