Results of the IFCT 0002 phase III study comparing a preoperative and a perioperative chemotherapy (CT) with two different CT regimens in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

7530 Background: Association of surgery and CT is standard for early-stage NSCLC. Meta-analyses showed comparable efficacy of adjuvant and neoadjuvant CT. The primary objective was to compare survival between two different CT strategies: all before surgery (PRE) versus perioperative (PERI). Methods: Between 2001 and 2005, 528 patients with a stage IA-II resectable NSCLC were randomized to 4 parallel arms (A: 2 GP + 2 GP in responders, then surgery, B:2 GP - surgery + 2 GP in responders, C: 2 TC + 2 TC in responders then surgery, D: 2 TC - surgery + 2 TC in responders; GP: Gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2/d1, 8 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2/d1 q3 wk; TC: Paclitaxel 200 mg/m2/d1 and carboplatin AUC 6, q3 wk). Results: 501 patients were operated on, 96.2% in the preoperative CT arms (PRE: A+C) and 95.8% in the perioperative CT arms (PERI: B+D). Ninety- day postoperative mortality was 4.9% and 4.2%, respectively. Pathological complete response was not significantly influenced by the number of preoperative cycles (PRE:8.6%, PERI:6.4%). In an intent-to-treat analysis, 3-yr survival was 67.8% and 68.6%, respectively (p=0.96). In responders, despite a dramatic difference in CT compliance (90.4% and 75.2% having received the 4 cycles, respectively, p=0.001), 3-yr survival was 75.1% and 79.5%, respectively (p=0.82). Survival did not differ with the CT regimen (GP versus TC, p=0.84). Three-yr survival increased from 68.1% in the PRE arms to 77.2% in the PERI arms in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and decreased from 67.7% to 61.6% in non SCC, respectively (Cox model interaction, p=0.35). Three-yr survival was 74.6% in the GP arms and 70.7% in the TC arms, in SCC, and was 64.2% and 65.4%, in non SCC, respectively (interaction, p=0.51). There was no interaction between CT strategy and stage. In stage II patients, 3-yr survival was 59.1% but 76.5% in responders, comparable to that of all stage I patients (72.9%). Conclusions: Despite an increased compliance of the all preoperative chemotherapy strategy, no difference was observed between the PRE and PERI arms. There might be an advantage for perioperative CT and for gemcitabine-based in SCC and for preoperative CT and for taxane-based in non SCC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.