RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity associated with adjuvant administration of carboplatin and pemetrexed for completely resected patients with stage IB, II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-five eligible NSCLC patients received surgical resection for pathological stage IB, II or IIIA followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC5 and pemetrexed administered on days 1 and 14 on a 28-day cycle. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CF) was given prophylactically. RESULTS: The mean time to disease progression of patients was 26 months. Toxicities were generally mild to moderate and entirely manageable. CONCLUSION: The administration of carboplatin and pemetrexed is a safe, well-tolerated and convenient regimen in the adjuvant setting of completely resected NSCLC, with efficacy similar to that reported in other regimens but less toxicity.