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Is There a Preferred Combination Chemotherapy Regimen for Metastastic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Correspondence: David S. Ettinger, M.D., The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Bunting Blaustein Cancer Research Building, Room G88, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21231-1000, USA. Telephone: 410-955-8847; Fax: 410-614-9424; e-mail: ettinda{at}jhmi.edu

Since over 70% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) disease, the majority of NSCLC patients might benefit from chemotherapy. During the past decade, a number of new agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, irinotecan, and topotecan) have been found to be effective against lung cancer. These agents have been combined with cisplatin, carboplatin, and nonplatinum drugs to treat NSCLC. They, in general, produce median survival times of 8-10 months and 1- and 2-year survival rates of 35%-40% and 10%-15%, respectively. Based on this review, there is not a preferred combination chemotherapy regimen to treat advanced NSCLC patients. However, there are a number of different regimens from which to choose.

Key Words. Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer • Combination chemotherapy • Phase III studies

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