Chemotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chemotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects, drugs. | ||||||||
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Paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine combination as induction chemotherapy for stage IIIA N2 bulky non-small cell lung cancer.Giannitto GC, Giuffrida D, Pappalardo A, Russo A, Vincenzi B, Saita S, Potenza E, Marletta F, La Venia G, Castorina S, Bordonaro R Oncology Unit, Gravina Hospital, Caltagirone, and Department of Oncology, Università di Palermo, Italy. BACKGROUND: Induction chemotherapy followed by surgical resection or definitive radiotherapy for patients affected by stage IIIA N2 bulky non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been investigated in several trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this present study, 52 patients with stage IIIA N2 bulky NSCLC with cytologically or histologically confirmed mediastinal lymph node involvement received paclitaxel 175 mg/mq on day 1, carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1 and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/mq on day 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for three cycles as induction chemotherapy. RESULTS: Objective response (4 complete remission and 36 partial remission) was achieved in 40/52 patients. No early or toxic deaths were observed. Twenty-two patients were surgically explored. Fifteen were excluded for resection for biopsy-proven residual tumour in mediastinal nodes. Complete surgical resection was performed in 15 patients with confirmed pathological downstaging. Pathological complete response was achieved in 4 patients. No surgery-related mortality or significant morbidity was reported. Adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered in 15 patients, and 30 patients received definitive radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine has been a safe and active regimen in poor-prognosis stage IIIA N2 bulky NSCLC. Published 6 December 2005 in Oncology, 69(4): 295-300.
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