Abstract

In this study, we aimed to compare the efficay and toxicity of cis-platin – gemcitabine (PG) combination with cis-platin – etoposide (PE) in advanced and locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. PG treatments were given to 18 patients ( 2 females, 16 males) and PE to 17 patients (5 females, 12 males), totally 35 patients stage III b or IV. Combination chemotherapies of cis-platin at a dose of 80 mg/m2 on day 1, gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8, and etoposide 100 mg/m2 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days, were administered. Overall response rates were found 33.3% and 41.1% in PG and PE, respectively (p>0.01). Median survival was 5 months in both groups. One year survival was found to be 16.6% in PG group and 17.6% in PE group. Nausea and vomiting were the most frequent side effects of PE group in a rate of 64.7% (in 11 cases) followed by anemia 38.8% (in 7 cases) in PG group, and nefrotoxicity 5.8% (in one case) in PE group. As a result although we have found partial response advantage for PE combination, but not statistically significant, there was no median or one year survival advantage between both groups.