[Platinum-free gemcitabine-based combinations: an alternative to conventional chemotherapy of non-small-cell lung...

Cisplatin-based combinations are standard regimens in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Survival improvement has been achieved using this therapy. However, the high toxicity induced by cisplatin-based doublets urges the research of alternate treatments. Newest cytotoxic compounds yield a better efficacy/toxicity ratio. Platinum-free doublet regimens based on new drugs are expected to offer the patient an improved survival without decreasing his quality of life. Treatment-allocated time and period with high grade toxicity could be considered as wasted from the patient point of view. Qualy methods based on time without symptoms and toxicity (TWiST) allow the accurate evaluation of this end-point. This brief state-of-the-art deals with methodological statements highlighted by the first publications of randomized studies comparing gemcitabine--navelbine or gemcitabine--taxane combinations with either single-drug chemotherapy or standard chemotherapy based on cisplatin. The choice of end-points is discussed.