Gemcitabine and vinorelbine as second-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer after treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum

Objective: To investigate the activity and feasibility of combination therapy of gemcitabine and vinorelbine for patients with advanced NSCLC after the failure of initial treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum. Methods: From March 2000 to August 2002, 38 evaluable patients (median age 55 years) with NSCLC, who had failed to recover after treatment with paclitaxel plus platinum, received vinorelbine (30 mg/m² i.v.) followed by gemcitabine (1000 mg/m² i.v.), both being administered on days 1 and 8 and recycled every 3 weeks. Results: Objective responses were as follows: partial response, 8/38 [21%; 95%; confidence interval (CI) 8-23%]; and stable disease, 21/38 (55%). Median time to progression was 3.9 months and the median overall survival was 8.1 months. Grades III and IV neutropenia were seen in 17 and 11% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: This combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine is active and highly tolerable as a second-line therapy for NSCLC.