Phase II randomized trial of carboplatin and gemcitabine with or without dexamethasone pre-treatment in patients with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

Pre-clinical and early-phase clinical studies have demonstrated that dexamethasone (DEX) administration prior to chemotherapy reduces toxicity and enhances efficacy in the treatment of cancer. We undertook a randomized, phase II multi-institutional trial to evaluate these effects in patients with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Patients were treated with carboplatin on day 1 and gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 every 21 days, for up to 6 cycles. Patients were randomized not to receive (Arm 1, n = 25) or to receive (Arm 2, n = 31) DEX orally for 4 days prior to chemotherapy on days 1 and 8. The primary endpoint was the incidence/course of grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicity. Secondary endpoints included efficacy [response and overall survival (OS)] and evaluation of the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), based on C-reactive protein and albumin levels, to predict survival and toxicity. The incidence/course of grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicity was significantly reduced in Arm 2 (DEX) versus Arm 1 (no DEX): neutrophils = 13 versus 40 % (p = 0.009) and platelets = 23 versus 44 % (p = 0.03). Response rates and OS were higher in Arm 2 versus Arm 1: 8/31 versus 2/25 (partial response, p = ns) and 378 versus 291 days (p = ns). The GPS significantly predicted survival OS (p = 0.04) but not toxicity. Pre-treating patients with DEX is a safe, effective, and economic method of reducing the hematologic toxicity of carboplatin and gemcitabine. Our data suggest efficacy may also be enhanced by DEX pre-treatment.