Comparison of Vinorelbine, Ifosfamide and Cisplatin (NIP)and Etoposide and Cisplatin (EP) for Treatment of Advanced Combined Small Cell Lung Cancer (cSCLC) Patients: A Retrospective Study

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety profile of vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin (NIP) with etoposideand cisplatin (EP) in the treatment of advanced combined small cell lung cancer (c-SCLC).
Methods: FromJanuary 2006 to December 2010, 176 patients with advanced c-SCLC were enrolled. The primary endpoint wasoverall survival (OS) and the secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) andtoxicity.
Results: Overall RR was 30.0% in the NIP and 38.5% in the EP group; there was no significant difference(P=0.236). The PFS in the EP group was little longer than that of NIP group, with 6.5 months for EP and 6.0months for NIP group, but the difference was statistically non-significant (P=0.163). The median OS and one yearsurvival rates were 10.4 months and 36.3% for NIP group, and 10.8 months and 49.0% for EP respectively, EPshowing a survival benefit, although this was not statistically significant. Both groups well tolerated the adverseeffects. The incidence of grade I-II leucopenia and alopecia in the NIP group was significantly higher than thatof EP group (32.5% vs. 10.4% (P<0.001, 35.0% vs. 12.5%, P<0.001).
Conclusion: the ORR, PFS and OS in NIPwere slightly inferior to traditional regimen EP. The toxicity of NIP can be considered tolerable. The usage ofthree drugs combination in the treatment of mixed SCLC remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the results need tobe further confirmed by large, prospective clinical trials.