Combining two different chemotherapy agents with platinum analogs as induction and consolidation regimes in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

Background: There are limited data pertaining to the combined use of induction and consolidation chemotherapy with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (RT) for treating nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). To find out an optimum/effective regime for treating NSCLC utilizing both induction and consolidation approach with concurrent chemo-RT is the primary aim of this study. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 132 patients with NSCLC. Fifty-four patients treated with paclitaxel-carboplatin and 78 with gemcitabine-cisplatin combinations in induction and consolidation phases. Concurrent chemo-RT included 60–66 Gray (Gy) of RT with weekly cisplatin and was similar in both the arms. Results: After completion of the consolidation phase, we observed on overall response rate (ORR) of 42.7% in the paclitaxel-carboplatin arm and 42.3% in gemcitabine-cisplatin arm with 2 and 3 years' survival rates of 32% and 19% with paclitaxel-carboplatin and 38% and 24% with gemcitabine-cisplatin regimes. We also observed higher ORR for squamous cell histology treated with the gemcitabine-cisplatin combination. Conclusion: Although both paclitaxel-carboplatin and gemcitabine-cisplatin combinations are equally effective in treating NSCLC, gemcitabine-cisplatin provided slightly better response rates but with clinically more frequent and relevant toxicities.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-SA

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