Is There a Preferred Combination Chemotherapy Regimen for Metastastic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

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Abstract
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Choose the appropriate chemotherapeutic regimen to treat a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the various regimens to treat stage IV non-small cell cancer. Understand the toxicities associated with each of the various chemotherapeutic regimens. Access and take the CME test online and receive one hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com Since over 70% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) disease, the majority of NSCLC patients might benefit from chemotherapy. During the past decade, a number of new agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, irinotecan, and topotecan) have been found to be effective against lung cancer. These agents have been combined with cisplatin, carboplatin, and nonplatinum drugs to treat NSCLC. They, in general, produce median survival times of 8-10 months and 1- and 2-year survival rates of 35%-40% and 10%-15%, respectively. Based on this review, there is not a preferred combination chemotherapy regimen to treat advanced NSCLC patients. However, there are a number of different regimens from which to choose.