Gemcitabine, cisplatin and vinorelbine as induction chemotherapy followed by radical therapy in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicentre study of galician-lung-cancer-group

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of a gemcitabine–cisplatin–vinorelbine combination in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: Patients ( n=46) with stage III NSCLC and naive of therapy were recruited into the trial to receive gemcitabine (G, 1000 mg/m 2) on days 1 and 8, cisplatin (C, 100 mg/m 2) on day 1 and vinorelbine (V, 25 mg/m 2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days for three cycles. Results: Two patients achieved complete response (CR) and 23 partial response (PR), overall response 52%. Subsequent radical surgery included nine patients of whom four were non-resectable and five were resected and with 1 CR. Radiotherapy was administered to 31 patients, and two achieved CR. The median time to progression and overall survival were 37 and 50 weeks, respectively. Grade 3–4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 35% of cycles, with two toxic deaths. Severe non-haematological toxicity was uncommon. Conclusions: This GCV combination is effective in patients with stage III NSCLC, and with an acceptable toxicity.