We conducted a phase II trial of triplet chemotherapy consisting of vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer to assess its efficacy and toxicity. Thirty-three patients with chemotherapy-naïve stage IIIB disease (n=8), stage IV disease (n=23), or recurrence after surgical resection (n=2) were given intravenous infusions of vinorelbine 25 mg m(-2), gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2), and cisplatin 40 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 8 at 3-week intervals. There were 16 partial responses, and the objective response rate was 48% (95% confidence interval: 31-66%). The median survival time was 13.5 months (95% confidence interval: 10.6-16.4 months), and the one-year survival rate was 61%. Grade 4 haematologic toxicity consisted of neutropenia in 72% of patients, and febrile neutropenia occurred in 42% of the patients. There was one toxic death, and it was attributed to neutropenic fever and haemoptysis. Autopsy revealed diffuse pulmonary haemorrhage secondary to bacterial abscesses and vasculitis in both lungs. The common nonhaematologic toxicities included grade 2-3 nausea (39%) and vomiting (18%). Triplet chemotherapy containing vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and cisplatin is effective in the treatment of chemo-näive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but produces unacceptable frequent febrile neutropenia.
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