Carboplatin-pemetrexed adjuvant chemotherapy in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a phase II study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity associated with adjuvant administration of carboplatin and pemetrexed for completely resected patients with stage IB, II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-five eligible NSCLC patients received surgical resection for pathological stage IB, II or IIIA followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC5 and pemetrexed administered on days 1 and 14 on a 28-day cycle. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CF) was given prophylactically. RESULTS The mean time to disease progression of patients was 26 months. Toxicities were generally mild to moderate and entirely manageable. CONCLUSION The administration of carboplatin and pemetrexed is a safe, well-tolerated and convenient regimen in the adjuvant setting of completely resected NSCLC, with efficacy similar to that reported in other regimens but less toxicity.