Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Exisulind is an apoptotic agent with preclinical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Vinorelbine is safe and effective in older patients with advanced NSCLC. We assessed these agents together as palliative treatment for older patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients >/=70-years-old with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC and a performance status (PS) /=3 neutropenia occurred in 14/30 patients. Two patients experienced neutropenic fever. There were no complete responses, one partial response and 12 patients with stable disease as their best response. The objective response rate was 4.0% (95% CI: 0.1-20.4%). Phase II median time-to-progression was 4.7 months (95% CI: 3.1-9.3 months) and median OS was 9.6 months (95% CI: 6.6-19.1 months). CONCLUSIONS: This combination is safe, seems to have activity in the elderly with advanced NSCLC and a PS