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The long-term kinetics of the immunologic response after vaccination of adults with Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharide vaccine is unknown. Total meningococcal anti-capsular antibody response (measured by ELISA) and serum bactericidal activity after routine vaccination with quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine were evaluated in US Air Force personnel. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, blood samples were obtained from approximately 40 personnel before vaccination, at 1 and 4-6 months, and at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years after vaccination. Total anti-group A and -group C capsular antibody levels and bactericidal activity peaked 1 month after vaccination and declined substantially by 2 years. At each interval, significantly higher levels of total antibody and bactericidal activity were detected than before vaccination. Anti-capsular antibodies and bactericidal activity persisted for up to 10 years after immunization. These and further studies on the serologic measure of protection against meningococcal disease are important for evaluation of candidate vaccines and development of recommendations for immunization.

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BACKGROUNDThe authors compared gemcitabine and carboplatin (GC) with mitomycin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (MIC) or mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin (MVP) in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The primary objective was survival. Secondary objectives were time to disease progression, response rates, evaluation of toxicity, disease‐related symptoms, World Health Organization performance status (PS), and quality of life (QoL).METHODSThree hundred seventy‐two chemotherapy‐naïve patients with International Staging System Stage III/IV NSCLC who were ineligible for curative radiotherapy or surgery were randomized to receive either 4 cycles of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, and 15) plus carboplatin (area under the serum concentration‐time curve, 5; given on Day 1) every 4 weeks (the GC arm) or MIC/MVP every 3 weeks (the MIC/MVP arm).RESULTSThere was no significant difference in median survival (248 days in the MIC/MVP arm vs. 236 days in the GC arm) or time to progression (225 days in the MIC/MVP arm vs. 218 days in the GC arm) between the 2 treatment arms. The 2‐year survival rate was 11.8% in the MIC/MVP arm and 6.9% in the GC arm. The 1‐year survival rate was 32.5% in the MIC/MVP arm and 33.2% in the GC arm. In the MIC/MVP arm, 33% of patients responded (4 complete responses [CRs] and 57 partial responses [PRs]) whereas in the GC arm, 30% of patients responded (3 CRs and 54 PRs). Nonhematologic toxicity was comparable for patients with Grade 3–4 symptoms, except there was more alopecia among patients in the MIC/MVP arm. GC appeared to produce more hematologic toxicity and necessitated more transfusions. There was no difference in performance status, disease‐related symptoms, or QoL between patients in the two treatment arms. Fewer inpatient stays for complications were required with GC.CONCLUSIONSThe results of the current study failed to demonstrate any difference in efficacy between the newer regimen of GC and the older regimens of MIC and MVP. Cancer 2003;98:542–53. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11535