Is second-line systemic chemotherapy beneficial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)? A multicenter data evaluation by the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology


Odabas H., Ulas A., Aydin K., İNANÇ M., Aksoy A., Yazilitas D., ...More

TUMOR BIOLOGY, vol.36, no.12, pp.9641-9648, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s13277-015-3728-0
  • Journal Name: TUMOR BIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.9641-9648
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) generally require second-line treatment although their prognosis is poor. In this multicenter study, we aimed to detect the characteristics related to patients and disease that can predict the response to second-line treatments in advanced NSCLC. Data of 904 patients who have progressed after receiving first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in 11 centers with the diagnosis of stage IIIB and IV NSCLC and who were evaluated for second-line treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The role of different factors in determining the benefit of second-line treatment was analyzed. Median age of patients was 57 years (range 19-86). Docetaxel was the most commonly used (20.9 %, n = 189) single agent, while gemcitabine-platinum was the most commonly used (6.7 %, n = 61) combination chemotherapy regimen in second-line setting. According to survival analysis, median progression-free survival after first-line treatment (PFS2) was 3.5 months (standard error (SE) 0.2; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.2-3.9), median overall survival (OS) was 6.7 months (SE 0.3; 95 % CI, 6.0-7.3). In multivariate analysis, independent factors affecting PFS2 were found to be hemoglobin (Hb) level over 12 g/dl and treatment-free interval (TFI) longer than 3 months (p = 0.006 and 0.003, respectively). Similarly, in OS analysis, Hb level over 12 g/dl and time elapsed after the first-line treatment that is longer than 3 months were found to be independent prognostic factors (p = 0.0001 and 0.045, respectively). In light of these findings, determining and using the parameters for which the treatment will be beneficial prior to second-line treatment can increase success rate.