[Carboplatin plus gemcitabine therapy versus carboplatin plus weekly paclitaxel therapy for advanced non-small cell...

We compared two chemotherapy regimens for advanced non small-cell lung cancer. The CG regimen consisted of carboplatin (AUC 4 to 5) on day 1 plus gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and 8, every three weeks, while the CP regimen was carboplatin (AUC 6) on day 1 plus paclitaxel (70 mg/m(2)) on day 1, 8 and 15, every four weeks. There was a total of 62 patients, 23 on the CG regimen and 39 on the CP regimen. In initial treatment, the response rate, time to progression and median survival time in the CG regimen and CP regimens were 40% vs 22%, 124 days vs 67 days, and 422 days vs 328 days, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the outcome. However, the toxicity profile was different in the two regimens. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were frequent in the CG regimen (61% vs 31%, p=0.02, 44% vs 3%, p=0.0002, respectively). Non hematological toxicity including grade 2 alopecia was less in the CG regimen (4% vs 36%, p=0.012). In choosing the chemotherapeutic regimen for non small cell cancer, it is important to consider the toxicity.