Irinotecan Plus Carboplatin Versus Oral Etoposide Plus Carboplatin in Extensive Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Phase III Trial

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (26) ◽  
pp. 4261-4267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Hermes ◽  
Bengt Bergman ◽  
Roy Bremnes ◽  
Lars Ek ◽  
Sverre Fluge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Oral Etoposide ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Grade 3

Purpose A Japanese randomized trial showed superior survival for patients with extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) receiving irinotecan plus cisplatin compared with etoposide plus cisplatin. The present trial evaluated the efficacy of irinotecan plus carboplatin (IC) compared with oral etoposide plus carboplatin (EC). Patients and Methods Patients with ED SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either IC, which consisted of carboplatin (area under the curve = 4; Chatelut formula) and irinotecan (175 mg/m2) intravenously both on day 1, or EC, which consisted of carboplatin as in IC and etoposide (120 mg/m2/d) orally on days 1 through 5. Courses were repeated every 3 weeks with four cycles planned. Doses were reduced by one third in patients with a WHO performance status (PS) of 3 to 4 and/or age older than 70 years. Primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were quality of life (QOL) and complete response (CR) rate. Results Of 220 randomly assigned patients, 209 were eligible for analysis (IC, n = 105; EC, n = 104). Thirty-five percent were older than 70 years, and 47% had a PS of 2 to 4. The groups were well balanced with respect to prognostic factors. OS was inferior in the EC group (hazard ratio = 1.41; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.87; P = .02). Median survival time was 8.5 months for IC compared with 7.1 months for EC. One-year survival rate was 34% for IC and 24% for EC. CR was seen in 18 IC patients compared with seven EC patients (P = .02). There were no statistically significant differences in hematologic grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea was more common in the IC group. QOL differences were small, with a trend toward prolonged palliation with the IC regimen. Conclusion IC prolongs survival in ED SCLC with slightly better scores for QOL.

A phase II study of cisplatin (P) plus etoposide (E) plus bevacizumab (B) for previously untreated extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (E3501): A trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7564-7564 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sandler ◽  
S. Szwaric ◽  
A. Dowlati ◽  
D. F. Moore ◽  
J. H. Schiller
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Extensive Stage ◽  
Grade 3

7564 Background: Scientific evidence supports the concept that the growth of solid tumors, including SCLC, is dependent on angiogenesis. Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been shown to improve survival when combined with chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. PE is a standard regimen for use in SCLC. Thus, we proposed this study of PE plus B in patients (pts) with previously untreated extensive stage SCLC. Methods: Pts with previously untreated extensive SCLC with a performance status 0–2, received P (60 mg/m2) IV followed by E (120 mg/ m2) IV followed by B (15 mg/kg) IV infusion on day 1, with E repeated on days 2 and 3 of a 21-day cycle for 4 cycles or until progressive disease (PD). Pts not experiencing PD continued bevacizumab until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was per cent of patients alive at 6 months. Results: From 6/8/04 to 8/18/06 (includes a ten month accrual suspension to evaluate data), 64 eligible pts were accrued. Patient characteristics: median age of 65.5 years (range: 45–83), 44% males, 95% Caucasian and 9% were performance status = 2. A median of 6 cycles of treatment were administered (range: 1–12). There is toxicity data on 58 pts. The most common treatment-related grade 3 & 4 toxicities were: neutropenia (7 & 26 pts), thrombocytopenia (8 & 2 pts), fatigue (10 pts, grade 3 only), hypertension (4 pts, grade 3 only), febrile neutropenia (2 pts) and dehydration (3 pts, grade 3 only). Two pts experienced grade 5 toxicities (hypotension and infection with grade ¾ neutropenia). There were no grade ≥3 hemorrhagic events. Response information is available on 39 pts. There have been 4 complete responses and 23 partial responses for an overall response rate of 69% (90% exact CI: (55%, 81%). The proportion of pts alive and progression- free at 6 months was 33% (95% CI: 17%, 49%). Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that the addition of B to the combination of PE in patients with previously untreated extensive stage SCLC appears promising. A randomized phase III trial comparing PE to PE + B is under consideration. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Combination Chemotherapy With Carboplatin, Docetaxel, and Gemcitabine in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase II Study

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 3816-3821 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Pectasides ◽  
A. Aspropotamitis ◽  
A. Halikia ◽  
A. Visvikis ◽  
F. Antoniou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Grade 3

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of carboplatin, docetaxel, and gemcitabine in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-five chemotherapy-naive patients with NSCLC were treated on an out-patient basis with carboplatin area under the curve 5 intravenous (IV) and gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 IV on day 1 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV and gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 IV on day 8. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (150 ug/m2 subcutaneously) was given prophylactically from day 3 to day 6 and day 10 to day 16. Chemotherapy was repeated every 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated for response every two cycles of treatment. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 58 years (range, 24 to 75 years). The performance status was 0 for 16 patients, 1 for 17 patients, and 2 for 12 patients. Nine patients (20%) had stage IIIB disease, and 36 (80%) had stage IV; histology was mainly squamous cell carcinoma (51.2% of patients) that was poorly differentiated (37.8%). All 45 patients were assessable for toxicity, and 41 were assessable for response. On an intent-to-treat analysis, the objective response rate was 46.5% (21 out of 45 patients; 95% confidence interval [CI], 31.7% to 62.5%). Of the 45 patients, four (8.8%) achieved a complete response (95% CI, 2.5% to 21.2%); 17 (37.7%) achieved a partial response (95% CI, 23.8% to 53.5%); seven (15.5%) had stable disease; and 14 (31.1%) had progressive disease. The median survival time was 13.5 months, and the actuarial 1-year survival rate was 51.11%. The median duration of response was 7.6 months, and the time to tumor progression was 8.1 months. Grade 3/4 anemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 17.7% and 28.8% of patients, respectively. Twenty-one patients (46.6%) developed grade 3/4 neutropenia, and six patients (13.3%) were complicated with fever. Alopecia was universal. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in four patients (8.8%); grade 3/4 neurotoxicity occurred in 10 patients (22.2%); and grade 2/3 allergic reaction occurred in three patients (16.6%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Six patients (13.3%) required a dose reduction, two of which required two reductions. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of carboplatin, docetaxel, and gemcitabine is an effective regimen for the treatment of chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced NSCLC, causing only moderate toxicity.

Phase II Study of Pemetrexed and Carboplatin Plus Bevacizumab With Maintenance Pemetrexed and Bevacizumab As First-Line Therapy for Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (20) ◽  
pp. 3284-3289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti D. Patel ◽  
Thomas A. Hensing ◽  
Alfred Rademaker ◽  
Eric M. Hart ◽  
Matthew G. Blum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Hematologic Toxicity ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Grade 3

PurposeThis study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed, carboplatin, and bevacizumab followed by maintenance pemetrexed and bevacizumab in patients with chemotherapy-naive stage IIIB (effusion) or stage IV nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Patients and MethodsPatients received pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve of 6, and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks for six cycles. For patients with response or stable disease, pemetrexed and bevacizumab were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.ResultsFifty patients were enrolled and received treatment. The median follow-up was 13.0 months, and the median number of treatment cycles was seven (range, one to 51). Thirty patients (60%) completed ≥ six treatment cycles, and nine (18%) completed ≥ 18 treatment cycles. Among the 49 patients assessable for response, the objective response rate was 55% (95% CI, 41% to 69%). Median progression-free and overall survival rates were 7.8 months (95% CI, 5.2 to 11.5 months) and 14.1 months (95% CI, 10.8 to 19.6 months), respectively. Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity was modest—anemia (6%; 0), neutropenia (4%; 0), and thrombocytopenia (0; 8%). Grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicities were proteinuria (2%; 0), venous thrombosis (4%; 2%), arterial thrombosis (2%; 0), fatigue (8%; 0), infection (8%; 2%), nephrotoxicity (2%; 0), and diverticulitis (6%; 2%). There were no grade 3 or greater hemorrhagic events or hypertension cases.ConclusionThis regimen, involving a maintenance component, was associated with acceptable toxicity and relatively long survival in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. These results justify a phase III comparison against the standard-of-care in this patient population.

Phase III Trial Comparing Oral S-1 Plus Carboplatin With Paclitaxel Plus Carboplatin in Chemotherapy-Naïve Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Results of a West Japan Oncology Group Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (36) ◽  
pp. 5240-5246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isamu Okamoto ◽  
Hiroshige Yoshioka ◽  
Satoshi Morita ◽  
Masahiko Ando ◽  
Koji Takeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Phase Iii Trial

Purpose The primary goal of this open-label, multicenter, randomized phase III trial was to determine whether treatment with carboplatin plus the oral fluoropyrimidine derivative S-1 was noninferior versus that with carboplatin plus paclitaxel with regard to overall survival (OS) in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods A total of 564 patients were randomly assigned to receive either carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) on day 1 plus oral S-1 (40 mg/m2 twice per day) on days 1 to 14 or carboplatin (area under the curve, 6) plus paclitaxel (200 mg/m2) on day 1 every 21 days. Results At the planned interim analysis, with a total of 268 death events available, the study passed the O'Brien-Fleming boundary of 0.0080 for a positive result and noninferiority of carboplatin and S-1 compared with carboplatin and paclitaxel was confirmed for OS (hazard ratio, 0.928; 99.2% CI, 0.671 to 1.283). Median OS was 15.2 months in the carboplatin and S-1 arm and 13.3 months in the carboplatin and paclitaxel arm, with 1-year survival rates of 57.3% and 55.5%, respectively. Rates of leukopenia or neutropenia of grade 3/4, febrile neutropenia, alopecia, and neuropathy were more frequent in the carboplatin and paclitaxel arm, whereas thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were more common in the carboplatin and S-1 arm. The carboplatin and S-1 arm had significantly more dose delays than the carboplatin and paclitaxel arm. Conclusion Oral S-1 with carboplatin was noninferior in terms of OS compared with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with advanced NSCLC, and is thus a valid treatment option.

Amifostine, cisplatin, and vinblastine in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a report of high response rates and prolonged survival.

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1913-1921 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Schiller ◽  
B Storer ◽  
J Berlin ◽  
J Wittenkeller ◽  
M Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Metastatic Nsclc ◽  
Grade 3

PURPOSE Based on preclinical and clinical studies that suggested amifostine may potentiate the effects of cytotoxic drugs, we conducted a phase II trial of amifostine, cisplatin, and vinblastine (ACV) in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with metastatic NSCLC received amifostine (740 or 910 mg/m2) before 120 mg/m2 of cisplatin on day 1, plus weekly 5 mg/m2 of vinblastine without amifostine. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. Patients were required to have good performance status, no prior chemotherapy or biologic therapy, adequate organ function, and measurable disease. RESULTS Sixteen of 25 assessable patients had an objective response documented by computed tomographic (CT) scan (64%; 95% confidence interval, 45% to 85%). With a median duration of follow-up of 19.2 months, the estimated median survival is 17 months and 1-year survival is 64% (+/- 10%). Toxicities included grades 3 and 4 neutropenia (8% and 92%, respectively) and nausea and vomiting (32% and 4%, respectively). Reversible grade 3 nephrotoxicity occurred in 12% of patients, although only one of 13 patients (7%) who received > or = four cycles of therapy had > or = 40% reduction in creatinine clearance. Grade 3 neuropathy was observed in seven patients at cumulative cisplatin doses that ranged from 324 to 660 mg/m2; grade 3 ototoxicity occurred in three patients at cumulative cisplatin doses that ranged from 390 to 450 mg/m2. Four patients (16%) required early stopping of an amifostine infusion due to hypotension. CONCLUSION ACV appears to be a highly active regimen in metastatic NSCLC. Acute toxicities were generally reversible and the data suggest that amifostine may protect against long-term renal insufficiency from cumulative doses of cisplatin. Although the sample size of this trial is small, the results are significantly encouraging to warrant confirmation in randomized multiinstitutional trials.

Phase III Study Comparing Amrubicin Plus Cisplatin With Irinotecan Plus Cisplatin in the Treatment of Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer: JCOG 0509

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1262-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miyako Satouchi ◽  
Yoshikazu Kotani ◽  
Taro Shibata ◽  
Masahiko Ando ◽  
Kazuhiko Nakagawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Extensive Disease ◽  
Grade 3

Purpose This randomized phase III trial was conducted to confirm noninferiority of amrubicin plus cisplatin (AP) compared with irinotecan plus cisplatin (IP) in terms of overall survival (OS) in chemotherapy-naive patients with extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients and Methods Chemotherapy-naive patients with ED-SCLC were randomly assigned to receive IP, composed of irinotecan 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 4 weeks, or AP, composed of amrubicin 40 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks. Results A total of 284 patients were randomly assigned to IP (n = 142) and AP (n = 142) arms. The point estimate of OS hazard ratio (HR) for AP to IP in the second interim analysis exceeded the noninferior margin (HR, 1.31), resulting in early publication because of futility. In updated analysis, median survival time was 17.7 (IP) versus 15.0 months (AP; HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.85), median progression-free survival was 5.6 (IP) versus 5.1 months (AP; HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.73), and response rate was 72.3% (IP) versus 77.9% (AP; P = .33). Adverse events observed in IP and AP arms were grade 4 neutropenia (22.5% v 79.3%), grade 3 to 4 febrile neutropenia (10.6% v 32.1%), and grade 3 to 4 diarrhea (7.7% v 1.4%). Conclusion AP proved inferior to IP in this trial, perhaps because the efficacy of amrubicin as a salvage therapy was differentially beneficial to IP. IP remains the standard treatment for extensive-stage SCLC in Japan.

Randomized Phase III Study of Gemcitabine-Cisplatin Versus Etoposide-Cisplatin in the Treatment of Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Cardenal ◽  
M. Paz López-Cabrerizo ◽  
Antonio Antón ◽  
Vicente Alberola ◽  
Bartomeu Massuti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Advanced Nsclc ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Grade 3

PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized trial to compare gemcitabine-cisplatin with etoposide-cisplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary end point of the comparison was response rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 135 chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced NSCLC were randomized to receive either gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) days 1 and 8 or etoposide 100 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3 along with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 IV day 1. Both treatments were administered in 21-day cycles. One hundred thirty-three patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis of response. RESULTS: The response rate (externally validated) for patients given gemcitabine-cisplatin was superior to that for patients given etoposide-cisplatin (40.6% v 21.9%; P = .02). This superior response rate was associated with a significant delay in time to disease progression (6.9 months v 4.3 months; P = .01) without an impairment in quality of life (QOL). There was no statistically significant difference in survival time between both arms (8.7 months for gemcitabine-cisplatin v 7.2 months for etoposide-cisplatin; P = .18). The overall toxicity profile for both combinations of drugs was similar. Nausea and vomiting were reported more frequently in the gemcitabine arm than in the etoposide arm. However, the difference was not significant. Gemcitabine-cisplatin produced less grade 3 alopecia (13% v 51%) and less grade 4 neutropenia (28% v 56% ) but more grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia (56% v 13%) than did etoposide-cisplatin. However, there were no thrombocytopenia-related complications in the gemcitabine arm. CONCLUSION: Compared with etoposide-cisplatin, gemcitabine-cisplatin provides a significantly higher response rate and a delay in disease progression without impairing QOL in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Combination of irinotecan and etoposide for treatment of refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 3329-3334 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Masuda ◽  
K Matsui ◽  
S Negoro ◽  
N Takifuji ◽  
K Takeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Topoisomerase I ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Median Response ◽  
Grade 3

PURPOSE To determine the response rate, survival, and toxicity of irinotecan (CPT-11), a topoisomerase I inhibitor, combined with etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, in refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with refractory or relapsed SCLC were entered onto the trial. All 25 patients had been pretreated with some form of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and had also received previous etoposide- or anthracyclinecontaining chemotherapy. The median time off chemotherapy was 6.7 months (range, 0.9 to 23.5). Patients were treated at 4-week intervals using CPT-11 (a starting dose of 70 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15) plus etoposide (80 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 to 3), with a subsequent dose based on toxicity. In addition, recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF; 2 microg/kg/d) was given from day 4 to day 21, except on the days of CPT-11 administration. RESULTS All patients were assessable for toxicity and survival. Twenty-four patients were assessable for response. There were 14 partial responses (PRs) and three complete responses (CRs), for an overall response rate of 71% (95% confidence interval, 53% to 89%). The median response duration was 4.6 months. Median survival was 271 days. Major toxicities were myelosuppression (predominantly leukopenia) and diarrhea. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 56% and 20% of patients, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 diarrhea was observed in 4%. There was one treatment-related death due to severe myelosuppression. CONCLUSION A combination of CPT-11 and etoposide with rhG-CSF support is an active therapy against refractory or relapsed SCLC and deserves to be studied more extensively in a phase III trial.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Pemetrexed Versus Docetaxel in Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated With Chemotherapy

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1589-1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasser Hanna ◽  
Frances A. Shepherd ◽  
Frank V. Fossella ◽  
Jose R. Pereira ◽  
Filippo De Marinis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Advanced Nsclc ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Previously Treated

Purpose To compare the efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed versus docetaxel in patients with advanced non—small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had a performance status 0 to 2, previous treatment with one prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced NSCLC, and adequate organ function. Patients received pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) day 1 with vitamin B12, folic acid, and dexamethasone or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV day 1 with dexamethasone every 21 days. The primary end point was overall survival. Results Five hundred seventy-one patients were randomly assigned. Overall response rates were 9.1% and 8.8% (analysis of variance P = .105) for pemetrexed and docetaxel, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 2.9 months for each arm, and median survival time was 8.3 versus 7.9 months (P = not significant) for pemetrexed and docetaxel, respectively. The 1-year survival rate for each arm was 29.7%. Patients receiving docetaxel were more likely to have grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (40.2% v 5.3%; P < .001), febrile neutropenia (12.7% v 1.9%; P < .001), neutropenia with infections (3.3% v 0.0%; P = .004), hospitalizations for neutropenic fever (13.4% v 1.5%; P < .001), hospitalizations due to other drug related adverse events (10.5% v 6.4%; P = .092), use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support (19.2% v 2.6%, P < .001) and all grade alopecia (37.7% v 6.4%; P < .001) compared with patients receiving pemetrexed. Conclusion Treatment with pemetrexed resulted in clinically equivalent efficacy outcomes, but with significantly fewer side effects compared with docetaxel in the second-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC and should be considered a standard treatment option for second-line NSCLC when available.

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