Will non-platinum-based chemotherapy for lung cancer become common?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21273617

Anticancer Res. 2011 Jan;31(1):317-323.
Randomized Phase II Study of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin or Vinorelbine in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
Jahnke K, Keilholz U, Lüftner D, Thiel E, Schmittel A.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. kristoph.jahnke@charite.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A randomized phase II trial was conducted to determine if two non-platinum protocols are able to yield a similar efficacy and toxicity profile as compared to two platinum-based doublets in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients were randomly assigned to a reference regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel (repeated every 3 weeks) or to one of three experimental regimens: paclitaxel plus vinorelbine (repeated every 3 or 4 weeks) and carboplatin plus paclitaxel (repeated every 4 weeks).

RESULTS: The objective remission rate for all the patients was 34.1%. The median progression-free survival for all the patients was 3 months. The median overall survival and one-year overall survival were 6 months and 21.5%, respectively. Toxicity was moderate and manageable. Response, survival and toxicity did not significantly differ between the four treatment groups.

CONCLUSION: The efficacy and toxicity profile of platinum-free combinations is comparable to that of platinum-based doublets.