Randomized study of maintenance vinorelbine in responders with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

An open-label, randomized phase III study of early switch maintenance vs delayed second-line nivolumab in advanced stage squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy-EDEN trial GOIRC 04-2016

BACKGROUND

As for squamous (Sq)-NSCLC, Checkmate-017 trial showed a significant overall survival (OS) improvement in favor of Nivolumab (Nivo) over Docetaxel in 2nd-line. We hypothesized that anticipating Nivo use, as early switch maintenance after 1st-line chemotherapy (CHT), might have improved survival as compared to delayed 2nd-line treatment.

METHODS

EDEN was an open-label, 2-arm, phase III study which randomized (1:1) stage IIIB/IV Sq-NSCLC pts non-progressive after 1st-line platinum-based CHT, to receive early Nivo as switch maintenance (Arm A) or standard best supportive care followed by 2nd-line Nivo at disease progression (Arm B). In both arms, Nivo was administered at the dose of 240 mg i.v. every 2 weeks until progressive disease, intolerable toxicity, or for a maximum of 2 years. The primary endpoint was OS.

RESULTS

From Sep 2017 to Aug 2020 125 patients (62 Arm A vs 63 Arm B) were randomized from 32 Italian centers. Accrual was stopped early, before the planned sample size (388 pts) was reached, because of registration of ICPIs in 1st-line. Most patients were male (79.2 %), current/former smokers (93.6 %), had stage IV (74.4 %), performance status 0-1 (98.4 %). mOS (95 % CI) was 14.9 (10.4-18.6) months in arm A vs 18.8 (14.4-21.1) months in arm B (HR 1.09, 95 %CI 0.74-1.62, p = 0.659).

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced Sq-NSCLC, the use of Nivo as switch maintenance after 1st-line CHT, does not improve OS compared to its use as 2nd-line. Although the optimal use of ICPIs remains in 1st-line, its role as maintenance has to be better investigated.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov: registration number: NCT03542461.

[Prevention, Diagnosis, Therapy, and Follow-up of Lung Cancer - Interdisciplinary Guideline of the German Respiratory Society and the German Cancer Society - Abridged Version]

The current S3 Lung Cancer Guidelines are edited with fundamental changes to the previous edition based on the dynamic influx of information to this field:The recommendations include de novo a mandatory case presentation for all patients with lung cancer in a multidisciplinary tumor board before initiation of treatment, furthermore CT-Screening for asymptomatic patients at risk (after federal approval), recommendations for incidental lung nodule management , molecular testing of all NSCLC independent of subtypes, EGFR-mutations in resectable early stage lung cancer in relapsed or recurrent disease, adjuvant TKI-therapy in the presence of common EGFR-mutations, adjuvant consolidation treatment with checkpoint inhibitors in resected lung cancer with PD-L1 ≥ 50%, obligatory evaluation of PD-L1-status, consolidation treatment with checkpoint inhibition after radiochemotherapy in patients with PD-L1-pos. tumor, adjuvant consolidation treatment with checkpoint inhibition in patients withPD-L1 ≥ 50% stage IIIA and treatment options in PD-L1 ≥ 50% tumors independent of PD-L1status and targeted therapy and treatment option immune chemotherapy in first line SCLC patients.Based on the current dynamic status of information in this field and the turnaround time required to implement new options, a transformation to a "living guideline" was proposed.

State-of-the-art combination treatment strategies for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most abundant type of epithelial lung cancer being diagnosed after 40% of invasions of excrescence in pulmonary tissues. According to WHO, 30% of NSCLC patients can be cured if diagnosed and treated early. Mutations play an important role in advanced stage NSCLC treatment, which includes critical proteins necessary for cellular growth and replication. Restricting such mutations may improve survival in lung cancer patients. Newer technologies include endoscopic bronchial ultrasonography and esophageal ultrasonography. Currently, policymaking or decision-making for treatment regimens merely depends on the genomic alterations and mutations. DNA sequencing, methylation, protein, and fragmented DNA analysis do NSCLC screening. Achievement of these goals requires consideration of available therapeutics in current anticancer approaches for improving quality of life and treatment outcomes for NSCLC patient. The specific goals of this review are to discuss first-line and second-line therapies for advanced-stage NSCLC and molecularly targeted therapy including thoughtful discussion on precise role of treatment strategies in specific tumors. Also, concerned diagnostics, new clinical trial designs, and pursuing appropriate combinations of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy with biological therapy for exceptional cases considering resistance mechanisms and palliative care will be discussed.

Vinorelbine in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Data From a Single-Institution Experience

The use of vinorelbine as a single agent or in combination regimens in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with satisfactory clinical activity. However, the role of vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in chemonaive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic NSCLC patients, according to real-world treatment patterns, has still not been widely explored. Eighty-one patients treated at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-seven received standard first-line single-agent vinorelbine, and 44 received vinorelbine plus platinum drugs, based on physician's choice; 61.7% were older than 70 years, and 60.5% were affected by ≥2 comorbidities. Sixty-three patients were evaluable for objective response: 22% achieved partial response and 41% stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.4 months. A benefit in PFS was observed in patients treated with combinations vs. single-agent vinorelbine (6.7 vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.043). Median overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months without a statistically significant difference between treatments (12.4 vs. 7.5 months). In 55 stage IV patients, OS was positively correlated with combination regimens, M1a stage, or ≤2 metastatic lesions. Grade 3-4 toxicity occurred in 33% of patients, and dose reduction in 11%. A statistically significant higher incidence of toxicity was observed in patients receiving combinations, in women, in patients younger than 75 years, or patients with metastases. In this real-word analysis, we confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of vinorelbine as a single agent or combined with platinums in patients usually underrepresented in controlled clinical trials. Single-agent vinorelbine may represent a suitable option in elderly or unfit NSCLC patients and warrants investigation as a potential drug candidate for immunochemotherapy combination regimens.

Do we Need Maintenance Chemotherapy in Advanced NSCLC in the Era of Immune and Targeted Therapy?

Background:

Although well established for the effective management of hematologic cancers, maintenance chemotherapy has only been recently incorportated as a treatment paradigm for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. Maintenance chemotherapy aims to prolong a clinically favorable response state achieved after finishing induction therapy which is usually predefined in number before startng treatment. There are 2 modalities for maintenance therapy; continuation maintenance (involving a non-platinum component which was a part of the induction protocol or a targeted agent) and switch maintenance therapy (utilizing a new agent which was not a part of the induction regimen).

Methods:

The purpose of this article is to review the role of maintenance therapy in the treatment of advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and provide a brief overview about induction chemotherapy in NSCLC to address the basis of maintenance therapy as a treatment option. We will also compare the impact of maintenance chemotherapy with the now evolving role of immunotherapy in NSCLC.

Results:

There have been 4 maintenance studies to date showing prolonged PFS and OS with statistical significance. However, Three out of the four studies (ECOG4599, JMEN, and PARAMOUNT) did not report tumor molecular analysis. As regard Immunotherapy, current data is in favour of strongly an increasing role for immunotherapy in NSCLC.

Conclusion:

Maintenance therapy in NSCLC continues to be an important therapeutic line to improve outcome in patients with metastatic and recurrent disease.

Nab-paclitaxel maintenance therapy following carboplatin + nab-paclitaxel combination therapy in chemotherapy naïve patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase II trial

Background A global multicenter study demonstrated superiority of carboplatin + nab-paclitaxel (PTX) therapy compared to carboplatin + PTX in terms of response rate (RR) and non-inferiority in terms of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in untreated patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer; no clinical findings have so far been reported on maintenance therapies with nab-PTX. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of maintenance therapy with nab-PTX following carboplatin + nab-PTX combination therapy. Methods Carboplatin (AUC 6) was administered on Day 1; and nab-PTX 100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8, and 15, and dosing was repeated in 4 courses of 4 weeks each. In patients with clinical response was observed at the end of the 4th course, nab-PTX maintenance therapy was repeated. Results Out of 39 patients included in the efficacy analysis, 19 (48.7%) patients completed the induction therapy and 15 (38.5%) were transitioned to maintenance therapy. The median PFS in the maintenance phase was 6.5 (90%CI 1.4-11.4) months. The median OS in 15 patients was 12.6 (95%CI: 7.4-not reached). Grade ≥ 3 toxicities observed in more than 5% of patients were neutropenia (55.0%), anemia (15.0%), and febrile neutropenia (5.0%), with no increase during the maintenance phase. Conclusions Although statistically significance was not demonstrated presumably due to a limited transition rate from induction to maintenance phase, nab-PTX was suggested to be a useful treatment option following the induction therapy with nab-PTX in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Oral Chinese herbal medicine as maintenance treatment after chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The concept of maintenance therapy in cancer treatment is currently under debate because of modest survival benefits, added toxicity, economic considerations, and quality-of-life concerns. Traditional Chinese Medicine (tcm) is widely used in China for cancer patients, offering the advantages of low toxicity and enhancement of quality of life. However, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have assessed the role of tcm as maintenance treatment for non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

METHODS

We searched the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, embase, and the Cochrane Library databases for all eligible studies. The endpoints were overall survival (os), progression-free survival (pfs), the 1-year and 2-year survival rates, and performance status. Our meta-analysis used a fixed-effects model and a random-effects model for heterogeneity in the Stata software application (version 11.0: StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, U.S.A.), with the results expressed as hazard ratios (hrs) or risk ratios (rrs), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% cis).

RESULTS

Sixteen randomized studies representing 1150 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with best supportive care, observation, or placebo, tcm as maintenance treatment was associated with a significant increase in os (hr: 0.49; 95% ci: 0.35 to 0.68; p < 0.001), pfs (hr: 0.66; 95% ci: 0.51 to 0.84; p = 0.001), and 2-year survival rate (rr: 0.63; 95% ci: 0.44 to 0.92, p = 0.017), and a significant improvement in performance status (rr: 0.68; 95% ci: 0.61 to 0.75; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients who show non-progression-including stable disease, partial response, or complete response-after first-line chemotherapy, including those with poor quality of life, oral Chinese herbal medicine can be considered an efficient and safe maintenance therapy strategy.

Lung cancer: current therapies and new targeted treatments

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Every year, 1·8 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1·6 million people die as a result of the disease. 5-year survival rates vary from 4-17% depending on stage and regional differences. In this Seminar, we discuss existing treatment for patients with lung cancer and the promise of precision medicine, with special emphasis on new targeted therapies. Some subgroups, eg-patients with poor performance status and elderly patients-are not specifically addressed, because these groups require special treatment considerations and no frameworks have been established in terms of new targeted therapies. We discuss prevention and early detection of lung cancer with an emphasis on lung cancer screening. Although we acknowledge the importance of smoking prevention and cessation, this is a large topic beyond the scope of this Seminar.

Single-agent maintenance therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials

Background

The benefit of maintenance therapy has been confirmed in patients with non-progressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first-line therapy by many trials and meta-analyses. However, since few head-to-head trials between different regimens have been reported, clinicians still have little guidance on how to select the most efficacious single-agent regimen. Hence, we present a network meta-analysis to assess the comparative treatment efficacy of several single-agent maintenance therapy regimens for stage III/IV NSCLC.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of public databases and conference proceedings was performed. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) meeting the eligible criteria were integrated into a Bayesian network meta-analysis. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and the secondary outcome was progression free survival (PFS).

Results

A total of 26 trials covering 7,839 patients were identified, of which 24 trials were included in the OS analysis, while 23 trials were included in the PFS analysis. Switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine and switch-pemetrexed were identified as the most efficacious regimens based on OS (HR, 0.64; 95% CrI, 0.45–0.92) and PFS (HR, 0.54; 95% CrI, 0.26–1.04) separately. According to the rank order based on OS, switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine had the highest probability as the most effective regimen (52%), while switch-pemetrexed ranked first (34%) based on PFS.

Conclusions

Several single-agent maintenance therapy regimens can prolong OS and PFS for stage III/IV NSCLC. Switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine maintenance therapy may be the most optimal regimen, but should be confirmed by additional evidence.

[Current Status and Development of Traditional Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer under the Background of Targeted Therapy]

近年来随着非小细胞肺癌靶向治疗快速发展，传统化疗获得的关注越来越少，而如何定位并合理地应用传统化疗药物，使患者从中得到最大的获益，在当前仍是不可忽视的命题。为此，通过对相关文献的回顾和分析，本文指出无论有无驱动基因突变的患者，传统化疗仍有许多不可替代之处，并且演变出了一些新的治疗模式，进一步提高了患者的生存获益，从而明确了靶向治疗背景下传统化疗的地位。同时通过对化疗疗效预测分子标志物研究和发展的阐述，指出未来传统化疗必将“靶向化”的发展方向。

Maintenance Therapy Improves Survival Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-analysis of 14 Studies

PURPOSE

The aim was to investigate whether maintenance therapy (MT) is sufficient or not to improve overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1990 and 2013 were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, ISTP, clinicaltrials.org, and ASCO conference proceeding. Patients' characteristics, OS, progress-free survival, and hazard ratios were extracted. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.2. Fourteen RCTs involving 6198 individuals were included.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, observation or best supportive care (BSC), patients receiving single agent (SA) MT had an improved OS (hazard ratio, HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.91; p < 0.05) and PFS (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57-0.73; p < 0.05). In a sub-group analysis of SA MT versus placebo, observation or BSC, we found that switch MT using SA provided an improved OS (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.91; p < 0.05). For multiple agent (MA) versus SA MT, a prolonged PFS (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.88; p < 0.05) but not OS (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.86-1.07; p > 0.05) was observed for MA. A significant prolonged PFS was observed in MA switch MT (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.58-0.86; p < 0.05) versus SA MT. However, no significant improvement in OS was observed for MA versus SA MT, indicating that switch MT (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.73-1.12; p > 0.05) and continuous MT (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.86-1.11; p > 0.05) showed similar effect on OS.

CONCLUSION

SA switch MT is associated with improved OS and PFS in patients with advanced NSCLC. MA switch MT is sufficient to improve PFS, but not OS.

Quality of Life in Patients with NSCLC Receiving Maintenance Therapy

Introduction: In the past few years many trials have evaluated the use of maintenance therapy in the treatment of NSCLC stage IV. Both switch as well as continuation maintenance show an improved PFS and overall survival. HRQoL data was only partially published. The aim of this article is to review the published effects of maintenance therapy on HRQoL. Methods: Two PubMed searches were performed using the terms: “maintenance therapy and NSCLC” and “maintenance therapy and NSCLC and HRQoL”. The published data was compared, analysed and evaluated. Results: 272 articles were found dealing with maintenance therapy, and of these 85 articles were found regarding maintenance therapy and HRQoL in NSCLC. Maintenance therapy showed no negative impact on HRQoL but failed to show a real benefit. Some symptoms showed positive trends during maintenance therapy. HRQoL can be used to select patients for maintenance therapy. Conclusions: Maintenance therapy is very safe, improves PFS and OS without impairing HRQoL. Although a positive impact on general QoL could not be demonstrated this is possibly due to the mode of evaluating HRQoL. Patient reported outcomes should be simplified and examined for a longer period of time.

Cost-utility analysis of maintenance therapy with gemcitabine or erlotinib vs observation with predefined second-line treatment after cisplatin-gemcitabine induction chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC: IFCT-GFPC 0502-Eco phase III study

Background

The IFCT-GFPC 0502 phase III study reported prolongation of progression-free survival with gemcitabine or erlotinib maintenance vs. observation after cisplatin–gemcitabine induction chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This analysis was undertaken to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of these strategies for the global population and pre-specified subgroups.

Methods

A cost-utility analysis evaluated the ICER of gemcitabine or erlotinib maintenance therapy vs. observation, from randomization until the end of follow-up. Direct medical costs (including drugs, hospitalization, follow-up examinations, second-line treatments and palliative care) were prospectively collected per patient during the trial, until death, from the primary health-insurance provider’s perspective. Utility data were extracted from literature. Sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

The ICERs for gemcitabine or erlotinib maintenance therapy were respectively 76,625 and 184,733 euros per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Gemcitabine continuation maintenance therapy had a favourable ICER in patients with PS = 0 (52,213 €/QALY), in responders to induction chemotherapy (64,296 €/QALY), regardless of histology (adenocarcinoma, 62,292 €/QALY, non adenocarcinoma, 83,291 €/QALY). Erlotinib maintenance showed a favourable ICER in patients with PS = 0 (94,908 €/QALY), in patients with adenocarcinoma (97,160 €/QALY) and in patient with objective response to induction (101,186 €/QALY), but it is not cost-effective in patients with PS =1, in patients with non-adenocarcinoma or with stable disease after induction chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Gemcitabine- or erlotinib-maintenance therapy had ICERs that varied as a function of histology, PS and response to first-line chemotherapy.

Maintenance strategies in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): in which patients, with which drugs?

Four to six cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy are currently recommended for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies have assessed the benefit of maintenance therapy following platinum-based first-line therapy, to improve disease control, and thus, progression-free and overall survival with minimal toxicity and maintenance or improvement of quality of life of patients. We review here clinical trials evaluating continuation maintenance therapy or switch maintenance therapy in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, to highlight the achievements made and critical issues faced. Based on the available results and limitations of these trials, maintenance therapy should be considered a good treatment strategy for a limited subgroup of patients. Maintenance therapy should be personalised according to the characteristics of patients and their disease, taking into account the data available for the agents used in this setting.

Maintaining clarity: Review of maintenance therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

The purpose of this article is to review the role of maintenance therapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A brief overview about induction chemotherapy and its primary function in NSCLC is provided to address the basis of maintenance therapies foundation. The development of how maintenance therapy is utilized in this population is discussed and current guidelines for maintenance therapy are reviewed. Benefits and potential pitfalls of maintenance therapy are addressed, allowing a comprehensive review of the achieved clinical benefit that maintenance therapy may or may not have on NSCLC patient population. A review of current literature was conducted and a table is provided comparing the results of various maintenance therapy clinical trials. The table includes geographical location of each study, the number of patients enrolled, progression free survival and overall survival statistics, post-treatment regimens and if molecular testing was conducted. The role of molecular testing in relation to therapeutic treatment options for advanced NSCLC patients is discussed. A treatment algorithm clearly depicts first line and second line treatment for management of NSCLC and includes molecular testing, maintenance therapy and the role clinical trials have in treatment of NSCLC. This treatment algorithm has been specifically tailored and developed to assist clinicians in the management of advanced NSCLC.

Update on the evidence regarding maintenance therapy

Maintenance therapy has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Maintenance therapy that aims to sustain a clinically favorable state after first-line chemotherapy has two strategies. Switch maintenance therapy entails switching to a new and non-cross-resistant agent in an alternating or sequential manner, on completion of first-line chemotherapy. Continuous maintenance therapy keeps ongoing administration of a component of the current regimen after four to six cycles of chemotherapy, if there is a stable disease, or better response. Both maintenance therapies can be continued, until disease progression. The potential evidence regarding maintenance therapy includes providing the opportunity to receive additional treatment, through sustaining tumor shrinkage, and delayed emergence of tumor-related symptom. Thus far, debates over the parameters used to predict the effectiveness of maintenance therapy, financial burden, and uncertainty of improving the quality of life exist. Despite many debates, maintenance therapy, which is currently recommended, has been disclosed to be beneficial.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapeutics as maintenance of response in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Survival for patients with advanced disease remains meager with standard platinum-based doublet therapy even given initially. Improved efficacy and tolerability of third-generation chemotherapies and small-molecule inhibitors has prompted the evaluation of these agents in the maintenance setting in order to enhance current outcomes. Two separate strategies have evolved: the introduction of a non-cross-resistant drug immediately following first-line or induction chemotherapy (switch maintenance), or the continuation of the non-platinum partner initially introduced during induction (continuation maintenance). Here we review the available clinical trial data evaluating both maintenance strategies, and offer our assessment of their contemporary clinical implications and cost-effectiveness.

Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer: Who, What, and When?

A 60-year-old woman with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and 35–pack-year smoking history is referred for treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). She initially presented after a transient ischemic attack, when a chest radiograph demonstrated a right lung mass. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a 5-cm right upper lobe mass, without mediastinal adenopathy, and a 6-cm cystic mass in the spleen. Additional imaging showed no brain metastasis. Endobronchial ulstrasound-guided core biopsies of the lung mass and ipsilateral mediastinal nodes confirmed a poorly differentiated non–small-cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for napsin A and thyroid transcription factor 1, suggestive of adenocarcinoma ( Fig 1 ). Molecular analysis identified a KRAS G12C mutation. A positron emission tomography (PET) –CT scan demonstrated [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the right upper lobe mass and splenic lesion ( Fig 2 A). CT-guided fine-needle aspiration of the splenic lesion was performed and revealed metastatic carcinoma, consistent with the lung primary. Treatment with carboplatin plus pemetrexed was initiated, without bevacizumab because of the recent transient ischemic attack; carboplatin was selected over cisplatin because of similar concerns. The patient received two cycles of chemotherapy without complications, and repeat imaging showed decrease in size of the lung mass and splenic lesion ( Figs 2 B and 2 C). After four cycles of chemotherapy, a chest CT showed ongoing response ( Fig 2 D). Her Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status remained 0.

Maintenance treatment with different strategies in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the role of maintenance therapy with either a continuation or a switch strategy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer and to investigate improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Depending on the tumor histologic type (squamous or nonsquamous), OS and PFS were also investigated. We used electronic databases to search for publications reporting RCTs comparing maintenance therapy and placebo or observation from January 1990 to March 2012. The primary endpoint of OS and the secondary endpoint of PFS were analyzed. Hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived. Eleven trials of 4790 patients were eligible for this analysis. A trend of improved OS was found in continuation maintenance therapy, despite a lack of statistical significance (HR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.66-1.01; P = .06). Improved OS with statistical significance was seen in switch maintenance therapy (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.90; P = .0002). PFS benefit was found with both continuation (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.46-0.63; P < .00001) and switch maintenance therapy (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.59-0.70; P < .00001). The squamous subgroup analysis demonstrated no statistically significant differences in either OS (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.63-1.30; P = .60) or PFS (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.58-1.10; P = .17), whereas the nonsquamous subgroup analysis revealed an improvement in both OS (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.94; P = .009) and PFS (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.50-0.63; P < .00001). Maintenance therapy was associated with higher drug-related grade 3 or greater toxic effects but without harming the patients' quality of life. Maintenance therapy with either a continuation or a switch strategy significantly increased PFS but OS was significantly improved only with the switch strategy. Patients with a nonsquamous histologic subgroup seemed to be more suitable for maintenance therapy.

Treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a treatable, but not curable, clinical entity in patients given the diagnosis at a time when their performance status (PS) remains good.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed to update the previous edition of the American College of Chest Physicians Lung Cancer Guidelines.

RESULTS

The use of pemetrexed should be restricted to patients with nonsquamous histology. Similarly, bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy (and as continuation maintenance) should be restricted to patients with nonsquamous histology and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS of 0 to 1; however, the data now suggest it is safe to use in those patients with treated and controlled brain metastases. Data at this time are insufficient regarding the safety of bevacizumab in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation who have an ECOG PS of 2. The role of cetuximab added to chemotherapy remains uncertain and its routine use cannot be recommended. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line therapy are the recommended treatment of those patients identified as having an EGFR mutation. The use of maintenance therapy with either pemetrexed or erlotinib should be considered after four cycles of first-line therapy in those patients without evidence of disease progression. The use of second- and third-line therapy in stage IV NSCLC is recommended in those patients retaining a good PS; however, the benefit of therapy beyond the third-line setting has not been demonstrated. In the elderly and in patients with a poor PS, the use of two-drug, platinum-based regimens is preferred. Palliative care should be initiated early in the course of therapy for stage IV NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant advances continue to be made, and the treatment of stage IV NSCLC has become nuanced and specific for particular histologic subtypes and clinical patient characteristics and according to the presence of specific genetic mutations.

Re-examination of maintenance therapy in non-small cell lung cancer with the advent of new anti-cancer agents

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer remains a disease with a high annual incidence and annual mortality worldwide, with limitations in first-line treatment past a fixed amount of platinum doublet chemotherapy for patients that do not harbor a targetable genetic abnormality such as an EGFR mutation or ALK gene rearrangement. Previous attempts to extend first-line treatment past 4-6 cycles of conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy have been disappointing, resulting in diminished quality of life and increased toxicity without improvement of progression-free or overall survival. Several advances in third-generation chemotherapy and targeted agents have generated a renewed interest in maintenance therapy, with several randomized phase III trials reporting a significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival with manageable toxicity profiles. The availability of new chemotherapy agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and immunotherapy agents with a more tolerable or nonoverlapping toxicity profile have resulted in improvements in progression-free survival and median overall survival in maintenance settings with specific agents such as pemetrexed and erlotinib. Patients who are responding to first-line therapy, have not suffered a detrimental decrease in quality of life or performance status, and understand the risks and benefits of further immediate chemotherapy should be considered for maintenance treatment.

Metabolic response evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT as a potential screening tool in identifying a subgroup of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer for immediate maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy

PURPOSE

Among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), identification of a subgroup of patients for immediate maintenance treatment after first-line chemotherapy has great importance in improving survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the metabolic responses evaluated by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) may be a potential screening tool for identifying patients with early disease progression who may benefit from immediate maintenance treatment.

METHODS

A total of 52 patients with advanced NSCLC (36 men and 16 women, mean age 57.2 ± 10.6 years) who underwent baseline and follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT after four cycles of first-line chemotherapy were enrolled. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), SUV(peak), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the tumour lesions were measured and percentage decrease of the parameters was calculated. The prognostic significance of percentage decrease of these parameters and other clinical variables related to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to define the optimal cut-off value of percentage decrease of the parameters that could distinguish between early (PFS < 6 months) and late (PFS ≥ 6 months) disease progression groups.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that percentage decrease of TLG [hazard ratio per 10% decrease = 1.030, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.012-1.048, p = 0.001) was a significant predictor of PFS and OS. ROC curves identified a 50.0% decrease in TLG as the optimal cut-off value to distinguish disease progression groups. Positive and negative predictive values of the optimal TLG value for selecting patients with late disease progression were 36.4 and 100.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The percentage decrease in TLG of measurable tumour lesions may be a potential parameter to appropriately identify a subgroup of patients for immediate maintenance treatment after first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Identifying the target NSCLC patient for maintenance therapy: an analysis from a placebo-controlled, phase III trial of maintenance pemetrexed (H3E-MC-JMEN)

Background

This was a post hoc analysis of patients with non-squamous histology from a phase III maintenance pemetrexed study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

The six symptom items' [average symptom burden index (ASBI)] mean at baseline was calculated using the lung cancer symptom scale (LCSS). Low and high symptom burden (LSB, ASBI < 25; HSB, ASBI ≥ 25) and performance status (PS: 0, 1) subgroups were analyzed for treatment effect on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using the Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic/clinical factors.

Results

Significantly longer PFS and OS for pemetrexed versus placebo occurred in LSB patients [PFS: median 5.1 versus 2.4 months, hazard ratio (HR) 0.49, P < 0.0001; OS: median 17.5 versus 11.0 months, HR 0.63, P = 0.0012] and PS 0 patients (PFS: median 5.5 versus 1.7 months, HR 0.36, P < 0.0001; OS: median 17.7 versus 10.3 months, HR 0.54, P = 0.0019). Significantly longer PFS, but not OS, occurred in HSB patients (median 3.7 versus 2.8 months, HR 0.50, P = 0.0033) and PS 1 patients (median 4.4 versus 2.8 months, HR 0.60, P = 0.0002).

Conclusions

ASBI and PS are associated with survival for non-squamous NSCLC patients, suggesting that maintenance pemetrexed is useful for LSB or PS 0 patients following induction.

Maintenance chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: new life for an old idea

Although well established for the treatment of certain hematologic malignancies, maintenance therapy has only recently become a treatment paradigm for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Maintenance therapy, which is designed to prolong a clinically favorable state after completion of a predefined number of induction chemotherapy cycles, has two principal paradigms. Continuation maintenance therapy entails the ongoing administration of a component of the initial chemotherapy regimen, generally the nonplatinum cytotoxic drug or a molecular targeted agent. With switch maintenance (also known as sequential therapy), a new and potentially non-cross-resistant agent is introduced immediately on completion of first-line chemotherapy. Potential rationales for maintenance therapy include increased exposure to effective therapies, decreasing chemotherapy resistance, optimizing efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents, antiangiogenic effects, and altering antitumor immunity. To date, switch maintenance therapy strategies with pemetrexed and erlotinib have demonstrated improved overall survival, resulting in US Food and Drug Administration approval for this indication. Recently, continuation maintenance with pemetrexed was found to prolong overall survival as well. Factors predicting benefit from maintenance chemotherapy include the degree of response to first-line therapy, performance status, the likelihood of receiving further therapy at the time of progression, and tumor histology and molecular characteristics. Several aspects of maintenance therapy have raised considerable debate in the thoracic oncology community, including clinical trial end points, the prevalence of second-line chemotherapy administration, the role of treatment-free intervals, quality of life, economic considerations, and whether progression-free survival is a worthy therapeutic goal in this disease setting.

Is overall survival still the primary endpoint in maintenance non-small cell lung cancer studies? An analysis of phase III randomised trials

BACKGROUND

In advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the increasing number of active compounds available in second line settings makes overall survival (OS) with maintenance treatment a not frequently observed endpoint. A literature review was conducted to examine whether post-progression survival (PPS) correlates with OS in maintenance trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PPS was defined as median OS - median PFS. The authors used the coefficient of correlation (r) to assess the correlation between them. They also evaluated the surrogacy of PFS and OS.

RESULTS

Ten trials with 11 arms were identified. Overall, a stronger correlation was observed between OS and PPS [Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r) =0.75] than OS and PFS time (r=0.37). The correlation of differences in median PFS (ΔPFS) and median OS (ΔOS) is 0.64 (P=0.0326). The slope of the regression line is 0.76, indicating that a maintenance therapy producing a one-month gain in PFS will yield an estimated three weeks prolongation in OS.

CONCLUSIONS

PPS is strongly associated with OS because of intensive post-study further lines of treatment. However, improvements in PFS are moderately associated with improvements in OS. Hence, in this setting, PFS is a possible surrogate for OS.

Triplet platinum-based combination sequential chemotherapy improves survival outcome and quality of life of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Maintenance chemotherapy is one strategy pursued in recent years with intent to break through the chemotherapy plateau for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, given the toxicity, platinum-based combinations are rarely given for this purpose. We carried out the present prospective study of triplet platinum-based combination sequential chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC to investigate if patients could tolerate and benefit from such intensive treatment.

METHODS

From Dec 2003 to Dec 2007, 190 stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients in Sun yat-sen University sequentially received the 3 platinum-based combination (TP- NP-GP) treatment (T: paclitaxol 175 mg/m2 d1; N: vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 d1 and 8; G: gemcitabine 1 g/m2 d1 and 8; P: cisplatin 20 mg/m2 d1-5; repeated every 3 weeks). Patients were followed up to at least 3 years to obtain survival data. Treatment toxicities and the quality of life (QOL) were assessed during the whole treatment.

RESULTS

There were 187 patients evaluable. The TP, NP and GP response rates with sequential use were 42.8% (80/187), 41.1% (65/158) and 28.8% (21/73) respectively. Median survival time was 18.2 months and the 1, 2 and 3 year overall survival (OS) rates were 78.7%, 38.5% and 21.3%. Patients receiving>6 cycles of chemotherapy had significantly longer OS and TTP (MST 25.3 vs. 14.5 months, TTP 15.1 vs. 9.1 months). The QOL on the whole for the patients was improved after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The sequential chemotherapy strategy with triplet platinum-based combination regimens can improve the survival outcome and the quality of life of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Randomized Phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by gemcitabine switch-maintenance therapy versus gemcitabine and carboplatin followed by gemcitabine continuation-maintenance therapy in previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background

In recent years, maintenance chemotherapy is increasingly being recognized as a new treatment strategy to improve the outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal maintenance strategy is still controversial. Gemcitabine is a promising candidate for single-agent maintenance therapy because of little toxicity and good tolerability. We have conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the validity of single-agent maintenance chemotherapy of gemcitabine and to compare continuation- and switch-maintenance.

Methods

Chemonaïve patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were randomly assigned 1:1 to either arm A or B. Patients received paclitaxel (200 mg/m², day 1) plus carboplatin (AUC 6 mg/mL/min, day 1) every 3 weeks in arm A, or gemcitabine (1000 mg/m², days 1 and 8) plus carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL/min, day1) every 3 weeks in arm B. Non-progressive patients following 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy received maintenance gemcitabine (1000 mg/m², days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks. (Trial registration: UMIN000008252)

Results

The study was stopped because of delayed accrual at interim analysis. Of the randomly assigned 50 patients, 49 except for one in arm B were evaluable. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months for arm A vs. 3.5 months for arm B (HR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.45–2.27; p = 0.95) and median overall survival (OS) was 15.0 months for arm A vs. 14.8 months for arm B (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.40–1.51; p = 0.60), showing no difference between the two arms. The response rate, disease control rate, and the transit rate to maintenance phase were 36.0% (9/25), 64.0% (16/25), and 48% (12/25) for arm A vs. 16.7% (4/24), 50.0% (12/24), and 33% (8/24) for arm B, which were also statistically similar between the two arms (p = 0.13, p = 0.32, and p = 0.30, respectively). Both induction regimens were tolerable, except that more patients experienced peripheral neuropathy in arm A. Toxicities during the maintenance phase were also minimal.

Conclusion

Survival and overall response were not significantly different between the two arms. Gemcitabine may be well-tolerable and feasible for maintenance therapy.

Systemic therapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: major-developments of the last 5-years

The standard palliative treatment for advanced stage NSCLC remains a platinum doublet but by tailoring chemotherapy according to tumour histology the results can be improved through using pemetrexed-containing schemas in non-squamous-cell disease. In addition, maintenance chemotherapy appears to be effective in patients achieving clinical benefit by induction therapy. Targeted therapy based on the presence of activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutations or EML4-ALK gene rearrangement is becoming standard practice with high median survival rates, up to 30 months. There are still numerous other molecular targeted drugs in development. This review presents the most recent relevant progress in systemic anti-cancer therapy of advanced NSCLC in the past 5 years and delineates today's new treatment options.

A paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death for men and women worldwide. Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Systemic chemotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment in the management of stage IV NSCLC. First-line chemotherapy typically consists of a platinum-based treatment. The optimum approach to long-term treatment beyond 4 to 6 cycles of chemotherapy is still evolving. Second-line chemotherapy given at the time of disease progression has shown clear survival advantages when compared with best supportive care alone. With the recent increase in the number of active and more tolerable agents available to treat NSCLC, there is renewed interest in the role of continuation of antineoplastic agents (continuation maintenance) or switching to a different agent (switch maintenance) after first-line chemotherapy. This case-based review discusses the role of maintenance chemotherapy in the long-term management of advanced NSCLC.

Maintenance therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: ready for clinical practice?

The treatment paradigm for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer has changed in recent years with the importance of histological subtyping for the choice of chemotherapy, and the use of molecular markers to select patients for targeted therapy. Maintenance therapy (MT) is another focus of interest. The potential benefit of MT for the patient is that it prolongs tumor control reached with first-line chemotherapy in order to improve overall survival with little added toxicity. Historical studies have never reached this goal, as the agents used for MT were too poorly tolerated. We review the data of the two types of recent MT studies, 'continuation' and 'switch' or 'consolidation' MT. We comment on how the benefits demonstrated in these studies may change clinical practice and reflect on factors that may identify subgroups of patients who derive the greatest benefit from MT in general, as this will help in a rational use of MT.

Single agent maintenance therapy for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Maintenance therapy is a new treatment paradigm for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized studies with single agent maintenance therapy.

METHODS

An electronic literature search of public databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library) and manual search of relevant conference proceedings was performed. A formal meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta Analysis software (Version 2.0). Outcome data were pooled and reported as hazard ratio (HR). The primary outcome of interest was overall survival (OS) and secondary outcome was progression free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included (5 meeting abstracts, 7 full manuscripts) with a total of 4286 patients (maintenance arm/control arm - 2449/1837, median age 61 years, males - 69%). The OS (HR 0.86, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.80-0.92; P=0.0003) and PFS (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.77-0.84; P<0.0001) were superior with maintenance therapy. 'Switch' maintenance was associated with significant OS and PFS improvement (OS HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.91; P=0.00026; PFS HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.57-0.67; P<0.0001). Despite a modest improvement in PFS (HR 0.90, 95%CI 0.85-0.95; P=0.007), "continuation" maintenance was not associated with survival benefit (HR 0.927, 95%CI 0.78-1.09; P=0.33). Improvements in OS and PFS were observed with both EGFR-targeted agents (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.92; P=0.004; HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58-0.71 P<0.0001) and cytotoxic agents (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.98; P=0.018; HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.89; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Single agent maintenance therapy improves overall survival, though statistical significance was only noted with 'switch' maintenance.

The effectiveness of maintenance pharmacotherapies for non-small cell lung cancer

Although current recommendations for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include a maximum of six cycles of platinum-based combination therapy as a first-line approach, most patients experience progression within 3-4 months. Therefore, a new treatment strategy, maintenance therapy, has been proposed, and several large randomized prospective controlled trials have shown benefits with maintenance therapy. Maintenance therapy can be classified as either continuation maintenance, which is defined as a prolongation of a part of the first-line chemotherapy or molecularly targeted agent until progression, or switch-maintenance, which is defined as the administration of a different cytotoxic chemotherapy or molecularly targeted agent immediately after induction therapy. In this article, recent results from large randomized phase III trials regarding maintenance therapy are reviewed in order to evaluate the role of maintenance therapy in NSCLC.

Personalized choice of maintenance therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer has become a leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Patient survival has improved with the introduction of new chemotherapy regimens and targeted drugs, but still, because of tumour progression or deterioration in performance status, a high percentage of patients do not receive more than one line of treatment. Given this situation, studies of maintenance therapies have begun, with results that have led to the clinical use of various drugs in a maintenance scenario. Additionally, results obtained in various clinical trials have raised the question of personalized approaches based on the clinical, pathologic, and molecular features of the cancer-not only in the initial approach, but also in the context of maintenance. Overall, the survival benefit seen with maintenance treatment has introduced a new therapy option that should be considered and discussed with patients, and (given the controversies that currently remain) chosen based on the preferences of patients and physicians.

Maintenance therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer

With standard doublet chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we have reached an outcome plateau of about 10 months median overall survival over the last decades. Several studies have now demonstrated some survival benefits for patients treated beyond induction chemotherapy. In the current discussion about treatment duration, the terms "switch" and "continuation" maintenance therapy are now most commonly used by the scientific community. Switch maintenance is the treatment with an agent with a different mode of action after completion of induction chemotherapy in patients who's tumors have not progressed, whereas continuation maintenance is the continuation of one compound of the induction regimen. Chemotherapeutic compounds successfully investigated in the maintenance setting are Gemcitabine, Docetaxel and Pemetrexed. Targeted agents, recently investigated as maintenance therapy are Bevacizumab, Cetuximab and Erlotinib. New peer-reviewed publications of phase III randomized clinical trials on maintenance chemotherapy have led to a change in current practice guidelines and the use of maintenance therapy represents a new treatment option in advanced NSCLC. The pivotal trials are described and summarized in this review article.

Maintenance therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: switch versus continuation

INTRODUCTION

The concept of maintenance therapy in lung cancer has stirred a great deal of interest over the last decade. Several randomized studies have been conducted to find out the usefulness of maintenance therapies for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews the major benchmark clinical trials and strategies in the field of maintenance chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. The two strategies used in maintenance therapy are: i) continuation maintenance - continuation of one of the initial treatments; and ii) switch maintenance - switching to a different agent not administered as initial treatment. Both chemotherapeutic and molecular targeted agents have been studied in the maintenance setting. These include docetaxel, gemcitabine, pemetrexed, bevacizumab, erlotinib and gefitinib. This paper discusses the relevant clinical trials using these agents and the two different strategies in the maintenance therapy in advanced NSCLC.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite some controversy regarding the choice or the timing of the maintenance therapy, most of the clinical trials have demonstrated a significant improvement of progression-free survival, translating to a survival benefit with pemetrexed and erlotinib. The approval of pemetrexed and erlotinib by the FDA has certainly shifted the pendulum towards maintenance therapy.

Effect of Feitai Capsule () on quality of life and progression-free survival of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of a Chinese medicinal herbal formula (Feitai Capsule, ) on the quality of life (QOL) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (31 cases) and the control group (31 cases). For the treatment group, 4 capsules (1.2 g/capsule) of Feitai Capsule were administered 3 times a day after meals for 3 weeks; then no drug was administered for 1 week. This schedule was continued for at least 3 more cycles (12 weeks totally). If there were no obvious toxic reactions, the treatment was extended. The patients were evaluated at least once every 8 weeks until progressive disease (PD). For the control group, the regular follow-up and evaluation were performed at least once every 8 weeks until PD. Clinical symptoms, objective response, physical constitution and energy, QOL, and PFS were evaluated regularly. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), a non-parametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and QOL. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the two-group PFS.

RESULTS

Sixty patients finished the final evaluation, with 30 patients in each group. Baseline characters between groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). The control group had a 36.7% improvement in clinical symptoms, while the treatment group had a 73.3% improvement. This difference was statistically significant (Z= -2.632, P=0.008). The control group had a 26.7% improvement in the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), while the treatment group had a 53.4% improvement. This was also significantly different (Z=-2.182, P=0.029). A comparative analysis indicated a positive correlation (r=0.917, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, QOL in the treatment group was significantly improved, except in the social/family condition and doctor-patient relationship indicators. The PFS of the treatment group and control group were 6.23 months and 4.67 months, respectively (P=0.048).

CONCLUSION

Feitai Capsule, a Chinese medicinal herbal treatment could improve the QOL and extend the PFS of the unresectable NSCLC patients.

Maintenance Therapy for NSCLC: Consensus and Controversy

Nowadays, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still an incurable disease. However, recent researches on maintenance therapy have led to considerable progress. Recently, pemetrexed and erlotinib have been approved for maintenance chemotherapy by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. However, there are not adequate data to support the maintenance therapy as the standard treatment for advanced NSCLC and there has been no conclusive predictor of who will get benefit from maintenance chemotherapy and what type of maintenance, continuation or switch, is preferred. This article reviews the main studies on maintenance therapy of advanced NSCLC and discusses the results available to date.