BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSForty-one patients with locally advanced (stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC were enrolled into the study. The patients received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² on days l, 8 and 15, and carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, with 28 days as a cycle. Each patient received at least two cycles.

RESULTSOf the 41 patients, 2 cases got complete response, 18 got partial response, 15 had stable disease, and 6 had progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 48.8%. The response rate was 55.6% (10/18) in the initial patients, and 43.5% (10/23) in the retreated patients (P > 0.05). The median survival duration was 11.8 months. The 1-year survival rate was 49%. There were 29 patients whose KPS score increased. The main toxicities were leukopenia (incidence of 34.1% for grade III+IV) and thrombocytopenia (incidence of 29.3% for grade III+IV).

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin is a feasible, well-tolerated and active scheme in either first-line or second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.