A clinical comparative study of GP and TP 1st-line chemotherapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacies of initial gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP) 1st-line chemotherapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and observe their side effects. Eighty-one cases were randomly divided into two groups: GP group and TP group. In GP group, administered gemcitabine (GEM) 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; i.v. cisplatin (DDP) 30 mg/m2 from days 2 to 4 on a 28-day cycle. In TP group, administered paclitaxel (PTX) 175 mg/m2 on day 1, i.v. DDP 30 mg/m2 from days 2 to 4 on a 28-day cycle. GP group had an overall response rate (ORR; CR+PR) of 45.0% (18/40). TP had an overall response rate of 43.2% (16/37). Short-term ORR had no significant difference between two groups (χ2 = 0.527, P = 0.957). GP had median survival time of 11 months and 37.7% of one-year survival rate, while TP showed 11 months of median survival time and 31.7% of one-year survival rate. Survival had no significant difference between two groups (χ2 = 0.140, P = 0.708). However, main side effects varied. Thrombocytopenia of GP group was significantly more than that of TP group, while peripheral neuritis, nausea/vomiting and myalgia of TP group were significantly more than those of GP group. Both GP and TP regimens had no significant difference in short-term treatment effect and survival rate for initial treatment of advanced NSCLC. However, side effects related to GP regimen treatment were slighter. Therefore, it was considered as the preferred initial first-line treatment for NSCLC.