Objective: The efficacy of cisplatin-vinorelbine chemotherapy (CT) in NSCLC is well established. In this retrospective data analysis, haematological safety and tolerability, furthermore the effects of cisplatin-vinorelbine combination on patients' quality of life (QoL) are examined by reviewing the clinical data of NSCLC patients in a retrospective manner.
Research design/methods: All patients (n = 25) received the following regimen: cisplatin (80 mg/m(2) on day 1 by i.v. infusion) and vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 by i.v. infusion; 21-day cycles; patients received four cycles of CT). Haematological laboratory and QoL data on day 1 of all cycles were collected. Quality of life was assessed by reviewing the data of patients' charts considering physical limitation, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, social activities, fever, appetite and weight loss. The absence of problems was scored as 0, moderate complaints as 1 and serious deterioration as 2.
Results: The QoL data showed no significant deterioration in the analysed symptoms of patients during the four cycles of cisplatin-vinorelbine CT (total QoL score was 3.0 +/- 1.4 points before treatment versus 3.6 +/- 0.5 on day 1 of the last cycle, p > 0.05). Haemoglobin values were 118.4 +/- 12.3 g/l before CT and 109.0 +/- 11.3 g/l on day 1 of last cycle of CT (p > 0.05). The mean number of platelets in the beginning and in the end was 256 +/- 123(*)10(12)/l and 217 +/- 119(*)10(12)/l, respectively (p < 0.05). White blood cell count was 8.36 +/- 3.21(*)10(9)/l, absolute granulocyte count 5.95 +/- 5.81(*)10(9)/l before the treatment, and these data were 4.50 +/- 1.96(*)10(9)/l and 2.15 +/- 1.21(*)10(9)/l, respectively, on day 1 of last cycle of CT (both p < 0.005).
Conclusions: Cisplatin-vinorelbine CT is a safe and well-tolerated chemotherapeutic option of NSCLC.