Response Rate, Side Effect and Reduction in Tumor Size of Vinorelbine, Gemcitabine and Taxanes as First Line Setting of Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Abstract

Background: Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung is a kind of non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has been found to deliver benefits to patients in advanced disease settings. Objective: To compare response rate and side effects between first-line chemotherapies vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and taxanes in patients with metastatic SCC of the lung. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 45 patients with metastatic lung SCC. All patients had received platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for 4-6 cycles. Patients were allocated into three groups based on the additional treatment protocol, with fifteen patients per group. A reduction in tumor size was assessed from tumor measurements for patients who had at least two evaluable assessments with computed tomography. The side effects of each drug were evaluated. Results: The reduction in tumor size in the gemcitabine, taxan, and vinorelbine arms was -5.59±35.62 cm3, 1.3±39.98 cm3 and -10.55±14.62 cm3, respectively, with no significant differences. The response rates in the taxan, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine arms were 73.33%, 80%, and 86.67%, respectively, with no significant differences. The side effects, including nausea, alopecia, diarrhea, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy, were, in particular, more common in patients in the taxan arm than in other arms, with significant differences. Conclusion: The three therapeutic arms, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and taxanes, had similar efficiency based on response rate, with a mild preponderance of vinorelbine.