Fixed-dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a 4-week schedule of a fixed dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, 48 patients with previously untreated NSCLC were given combination chemotherapy that consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) (10 mg/m(2)/min fixed dose rate infusion) and cisplatin 25 mg/m(2), and both drugs were given weekly on days 1, 8 and 15. A partial response and stable disease were observed in 20 patients (41.7%, 95% CI; 27.8-55.6%) and 12 patients (25.0%), respectively. The overall median survival was 10.30 months (range: 7.85-12.74 months). Major toxicities included neutropenia (grade 3 to 4, 29.2%) and infection (grade 3 to 4, 27.1%). Our results indicate that this regimen is a feasible treatment for elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable NSCLC. Nevertheless, the morbidity due to myelosuppression and infection following this treatment should be carefully considered.