International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2024, Vol 34, Num 3 Page(s): 193-203
The Results of a Phase II Study of Weekly Gemcitabine±Cisplatin with Concurrent Thoracic Radiation Therapy Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine+Cisplatin for Stape III Unresectable Non- Small Cell Cancer

Okan ORHAN1, Celalettin EROĞLU1, Bünyamin KAPLAN1, Özlem ER2, Oğuz G. YILDIZ1, Serdar SOYUER1, Mete GÜNDOĞ1, Metin ÖZKAN2

1Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Radyasyon Onkolojisi Anabilim Dalı, KAYSERİ
2Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Medikal Onkoloji Bilim Dalı, KAYSERİ

Keywords: Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, Chemoradiotherapy, Locally advanced ( stage III) non-small cell lung cancer
In this study, we compared the toxic side effects, local control and overall survival rates of either gemcitabine + cisplatin or gemcitabine alone used concomitantly with conventional radiotherapy plus gemcitabine + cisplatin consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced (IIIA-B) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Twenty-two consecutive patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to test the tolerability and efficacy of low dose gemcitabine +/-cisplatin given weekly as radiosensitizer in locally advanced (stage IIIA-B) NSCLC. Nine patients who received gemcitabine + cisplatin with radiotherapy marked as first group; thirteen patients who received gemcitabine alone with radiotherapy, marked as second group. All patients were administered 4 cycles of gemcitabine + cisplatin as consolidation chemotherapy after chemoradiotherapy regimen.

Overall response rate for the first group (chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine + cisplatin) was 44%, and 54% for second group (chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine alone) (p > 0.05). Median overall survival (OS) was 6 months in first group, and 5 months in second group (p=0.176). The progression-free survival and local control rates were smilar in both groups. But the toxic side effects are much more in first group than in second group.

Due to toxicity, gemcitabine + cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy is not a tolerable regimen. This regimen caused insufficent intensity of chemotherapy, yielding low locoregional control and poor overall survival in locally advanced (stage IIIA-B) NSCLC patients.