Pemetrexed-cisplatin is an effective and well-tolerated regimen as first-line therapy for NSCLC patients with BM who always suffer a poor prognosis.

These results confirm the efficacy of chemotherapy in brain metastases of NSCLC and suggest that the timing (early or delayed) of WBRT did not influence survival of NSCLC with brain metastasis treated with concurrent chemotherapy.

Second-line treatment for NSCLC is more cost-effective with docetaxel than with pemetrexed. Both strategies have acceptable cost-effectiveness ratios compared with commonly used and reimbursed regimens for advanced NSCLC.

First-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin in metastatic SCLC achieved a response rate and survival similar to standard regimens. With 1-day administration and a tolerable toxicity profile, this combination merits further investigation.