This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van Putten, J. W. G. Articles by Groen, H. J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van Putten, J. W. G. Articles by Groen, H. J. M.

A Phase I Study of Gemcitabine with Concurrent Radiotherapy in Stage III, Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Departments of Pulmonary Diseases [J. W. G. v. P., H. J. M. G.], and Radiotherapy [A. H. d. v. d. L.], University Hospital, Groningen, 9700 RB the Netherlands, and Department of Oncology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom [A. P., A. G., F. A. L.]

Purpose: Our goal was to find the maximum tolerated dose of gemcitabine administered concurrently with thoracic radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods: Patients with stage III NSCLC and a radiation planning volume less than 2000 cm³ were included. Treatment consisted of 6 weeks of thoracic radiation, 2 Gy daily for 5 days a week for a total dose of 60 Gy. Planning with multiple field arrangements and three-dimensional conformal technique was used. Patients were treated with gemcitabine, starting with a dose of 300 mg/m² in the 1st week of radiation. In subsequent cohorts, the weekly dosing frequency of gemcitabine was increased until weekly administration was reached. Thereafter, the doses of weekly gemcitabine were increased. Toxicity was measured using Common Toxicity of the National Cancer Institute (CTC), acute Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and late RTOG/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) rating scales.

Results: Twenty-seven patients were included, of whom 14 had stage IIIa and 13 had stage IIIb. Dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 esophagitis and grade 3 radiation pneumonitis in the patient cohort receiving gemcitabine 450 mg/m² once weekly. The mean actual treated radiation volume was 760 cm³ (range, 289-1718 cm³).

Conclusions: The maximum tolerated dose and frequency of gemcitabine in locally advanced NSCLC is 300 mg/m² once weekly during 6 weeks of thoracic radiotherapy, as long as the treatment volume does not exceed 2000 cm³.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. G. Divers, S. A. Spencer, D. Carey, E. M. Busby, M. D. Hyatt, and F. Robert Phase I/IIa Study of Cisplatin and Gemcitabine As Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., September 20, 2005; 23(27): 6664 - 6673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Pauwels, A. E.C. Korst, F. Lardon, and J. B. Vermorken Combined Modality Therapy of Gemcitabine and Radiation Oncologist, January 1, 2005; 10(1): 34 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. T. Milano, D. J. Haraf, K. M. Stenson, M. E. Witt, C. Eng, B. B. Mittal, A. Argiris, H. Pelzer, M. F. Kozloff, and E. E. Vokes Phase I Study of Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy with Paclitaxel, Fluorouracil, Gemcitabine, and Twice-Daily Radiation in Patients with Poor-Prognosis Cancer of the Head and Neck Clin. Cancer Res., August 1, 2004; 10(15): 4922 - 4932. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]