Vinorelbine plus cisplatin versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced NSCLC

Objective The combinations of vinorelbine plus cisplatin(NP) and gemcitabine plus cisplatin(GP) are good regimens used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).To compare the response rate,survival rate and toxicity of the two regimens.Methods From 1999 to 2004,80 patients with a mean age of 56.2 years(range 26-77 years)with Ⅲb/Ⅳ stage NSCLC were treated with vinorelbine(VNR,25mg/m2) on 1d and 8d and cisplatin(CDDP,30mg/m2) on 1d,2d and 3d or gemcitabine(GEM,1 000mg/m2) on 1d and 8d and cisplatin(CDDP,30mg/m2) on 1d,2d and 3d,in repeated cycle of 21d.Fourty patients(group A) received NP and 40(group B) received GP.Results In group A,there were 1 complete recovery(CR) and 10 partial recovery(PR) with the overall response rate(ORR) of 27.5%,compared with 9 PR and ORR of 22.5% in group B(P0.05).Mean survival times were 9.4 months in group A and 8.6 months in group B(P0.05).One-year survival rates for group A and B were 10.0% and 7.5% respectively.The main side effects came from the inhibition on the bone marrow.The grade Ⅲ,Ⅳ of leukopenia in group A and B were 45.0% and 40.0% respectively.There was no significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).The grade Ⅲ,Ⅳ of constipation in group A and B were 25.0% and 7.5% respectively.There was significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion Both NP and GP are tolerable regimens with good efficacy for advanced NSCLC patients.