Comparison of pemetrexed plus cisplatin versus pemetrexed plus carboplatin in the initial treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

e18067 Background: The combination of pemetrexed plus cisplatin (PC) was recently approved in the initial treatment of advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Studies reported comparable efficacy of the combination pemetrexed plus carboplatin (PCar) in the same setting. Methods: We assessed 69 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC treated with pemetrexed combined to cisplatin or carboplatin from January 2004 to June 2010. Clinical data was collected and the following endpoints were analysed: overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and toxicity profile. We performed univariate analysis to identify the predictive factors of response to both combinations. Results: Twenty six (37.68%) patients were treated with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and 43 (62.32%) with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus carboplatin AUC 5 every 21 days. The groups were well matched for age, sex, TNM stage, smoking status and histolo...