Background: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard regimens in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel or gemcitabine combined with cispltin for patients with advanced NSCLC.
Methods: Seventy-seven advanced NSCLC patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 39 in TP group and 38 in GP group. TP group: paclitaxel 135 mg/m², on day 1; cisplatin 30 mg/m², on days 1-3. GP group: gemcitabine 1000 mg/m², on days 1, 8; cisplatin 30 mg/m², on days 1-3.
Results: Patients' characteristics were similar between the two groups. The overall response rate was 46.2% in the TP group and 42.1% in the GP group. There was no statistically significant difference in response rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The major cytotoxicity was leukopenia in the TP group and thrombocytopenia in the GP group.
Conclusions: Both TP and GP regimens are effective for advanced NSCLC and have no significant difference. The side effects of the two regimens are different but all adverse reactions are tolerable.