Results of a phase II trial of gemcitabine in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and a performance status of 2.

This trial was designed to determine the 1-year survival rate, efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity with gemcitabine in patients with stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 2. Gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2 was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment consisted of 6 cycles; patients who responded with complete response or partial response received < or = 2 additional cycles.

Topoisomerase I-based nonplatinum combinations in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in males and females in the United States. Most patients have advanced disease at diagnosis. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients with good performance status.