Adding Gemcitabine to Paclitaxel/Carboplatin Combination Increases Survival in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Results of a Phase II-III Study

Abstract

The PCG regimen offers a significant survival advantage over PC in advanced NSCLC, making PCG a treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients.

A novel triplet regimen with paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine (PACCAGE) as induction chemotherapy for locally advanced unresectable non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

“…Recently, the investigators from the same Italian group have shown in a randomised study that adding gemcitabine to paclitaxel and carboplatin significantly increases objective response, time to progression and survival compared to the paclitaxel and carboplatin regimen without gemcitabine in stage IIIB-IV patients unsuitable for local therapy [15].…”

“…Phase I-II studies indicated the feasibility of this approach in advanced stage NSCLC: the triplet regimen with paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine was active in this setting at the expense of mainly myelosuppression [12][13][14]. A recently published phase II-III trial in stage IIIB-IV NSCLC demonstrated a significant increase in response, time to progression and survival when gemcitabine was added to paclitaxel and carboplatin versus paclitaxel and carboplatin alone [15].…”

c-Met antisense oligodeoxynucleotides increase sensitivity of human glioma cells to paclitaxel

“…It has shown cytotoxic activity against common solid tumors and a number of leukemias, Walker 256 carcinosarcomas and lung tumors (3). Paclitaxel is a potent inhibitor of cell replication that works by blocking cells in the late G2 or M phase of the cell cycle and binding to cellular microtubules for promoting the polymerization of microtubules (4,5).…”

Prospective phase II trial of a combination of fixed dose rate infusion of gemcitabine with cisplatin and UFT as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma

“…SICOG 0101 showed increasing RR but not OS with the triplet regimen [30]. However, Paccagnella et al reported significantly increased RR as well as OS and progression-free survival [31]. In addition, the triplet regimen was associated with increased toxicities compared with the doublet regimen.…”