Chemotherapy using a platinum-based doublet of carboplatin and paclitaxel has been associated with a significant reduction in mortality compared to mono therapies in a new study.

The median survival of patients using the doublet was 10.3 months, compared to 6.2 months for those using randomised monotherapy, according to the research published in the Lancet this week.

After one year of administering the treatment, survival rates were 44.5 per cent for the doublet therapy group compared to just 25.4 per cent for the monotherapy control.

However, researchers noted that those using the doublet therapy suffered worse "role functioning and fatigue", although participants' overall quality of life scores at week 18 were similar between both groups.

They also pointed out that the doublet was associated with higher toxicity than the monotherapy vinorelbine and gemcitabine drugs, although this was believed to be outweighed by the survival benefit.

In total, there were ten deaths in the 225-strong doublet therapy group, and three in the 226-strong monotherapy group.

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