Document Classification

Section Type: METHODS

Text: In this phase 3 trial, patients with untreated stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio by use of an interactive internet response system with minimisation algorithm (stratified by disease stage, tumour histology, smoking status, and chemotherapy regimen) to receive six cycles of gemcitabine (1250 mg/m (2) on days 1 and 8, intravenously) plus platinum (carboplatin 5area under the curve or cisplatin 75 mg/m (2) on day 1, intravenously) with intercalated erlotinib (150 mg/day on days 15-28, orally ; chemotherapy plus erlotinib) or placebo orally (chemotherapy plus placebo) every 4 weeks.