Recent advances in managing non-small-cell lung cancer: 4. Chemotherapy of metastatic cancer

Med J Aust. 1997 Jun 2;166(S1):S14-6.

Abstract

Chemotherapy has been shown to prolong survival and to be cost effective in the palliative treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. A meta-analysis of 11 randomised trials has found a small benefit from combination chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC, increasing one-year survival rates from 5% to 15%. New combination regimens, especially carboplatin-paclitaxel, show higher response rates in selected patients, and promise improved survival rates, but this has yet to be confirmed in randomised trials.

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / secondary*
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Docetaxel
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Paclitaxel / analogs & derivatives
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Palliative Care
  • Taxoids*
  • Topoisomerase I Inhibitors

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Taxoids
  • Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Docetaxel
  • Paclitaxel
  • Gemcitabine