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news.Preliminary clinical trial results have shown that Eli Lilly's Gemzar administered prior to surgery has a positive impact on survival, tumor shrinkage and quality of life among patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
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The study results form part of an ongoing dual-clinical trial program, named GINEST, evaluating the effectiveness of Gemzar in combination with other leading chemotherapy agents in the treatment of stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer.
The data indicate the therapy to be highly tolerable and to improve overall survival rate. At six months after surgery, 78% of patients rated their quality of life as improved or stable. However, a small number of participants reported a worsening of quality of life following surgery and two patients could not undergo surgery because of a subsequent reduced lung function after Gemzar administration.
Richard Gralla, president of the New York Lung Cancer Alliance and a GINEST investigator, highlighted the importance of the continuing work, saying: “Traditionally, treatment of stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer has only involved surgery. The goal of administering these regimens prior to surgery is to treat any microscopic spread of disease and shrink the tumor to enhance the likelihood of surgical removal of the tumor. As we continue this project, we hope to learn which chemotherapy regimens produce the best results, and do so safely while maintaining or improving patients’ quality of life.”