1. ¹Division of Respiratory Diseases, Kumamoto Regional Medical Center, 5 Cho-me 16-10 Honjou, Kumamoto City 860 0811, Japan
2. ²Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Kyushu Cancer Center, 3-1-1 Notome Minami-Ku, Fukuoko City 811 1395, Japan
3. ³Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asou Iizuka Hospital, 3-83 Yoshiomado, Iizuko City 820 0018, Japan

Correspondence: T Seto, E-mail: tmseto@ca.mbn.or.jp

Received 23 October 2001; Revised 11 March 2002; Accepted 8 April 2002.

Abstract

A phase I study was carried out to determine the optimal dose and administration schedule for combined UFT plus gemcitabine therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Twenty-four patients (including 11 patients previously treated with cisplatin as the key drug) received oral UFT 400 mg m^-2 on days 1 to 14 with intravenous infusions of gemcitabine (800 mg m^-2 on days 8 and 15, or 900 mg m^-2 on days 8 and 15, or 900 mg m^-2 on days 1, 8 and 15). The most appropriate dosing option appeared to be 400 mg m^-2 per day of oral UFT for 14 consecutive days with 900 mg m^-2 gemcitabine on days 8 and 15. Eight of the 24 patients achieved partial response. The combination chemotherapy UFT and gemcitabine was well tolerated and may benefit patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A multicentre phase II study using a 3-weekly regimen is in progress.