Can some chemotherapies help you live longer?

This study looked at the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Currently, the most up-to-date treatment for NSCLC that has advanced or spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) is a combination of chemotherapies. Platinum-based chemotherapies (such as cisplatin [Platinol]) are the first-line treatments. They are often combined with other types of chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine (Gemzar), paclitaxel (Abraxane), vinorelbine (Navelbine) or pemetrexed (Alimta).

The use of these treatment combinations is based on results seen in clinical trials. The real-world success of these treatments is unclear.

The current study looked at the real world use of these recommended chemotherapies to see if they really are the best option for NSCLC patients.

This study included 1564 patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Patients were grouped according to their chemotherapy regime. All patients used a type of platinum-based chemotherapy combined another chemotherapy drug. These other drugs included pemetrexed (569 patients), gemcitabine , paclitaxel/docetaxel (295 patients) and vinorelbine (300 patients). 

The average survival rate of the patients was 10.3 months. The average 1-year overall survival rate (time from treatment until death from any cause) was 45%. 

Patients with a specific type of NSCLC (non-squamous NSCLC) who were treated with cisplatin (633 patients) had a slightly longer survival time of 10.6 months. The average 1-year survival rate was 47%. Average survival time was longest for patients also treated with pemetrexed at 11.6 months, 9.9 months for vinorelbine, 8.4 months for gemcitabine, and 9.6 months for paclitaxel/docetaxel.

This study concluded that the real-world combinations of platinum-based chemotherapies with other therapies led to average survival times of 10-11 months. This study also concluded that patients treated with cisplatin and pemetrexed  survived the longest.

This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company the manufacturer of pemetrexed and gemcitabine.

Discuss the best chemotherapy treatment for your NSCLC with your doctor.