Phase II study of docetaxel for advanced or metastatic platinum-refractory non-small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a phase II study to determine the response to and toxicity of docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhône-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Collegeville, PA) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer refractory to prior platinum-containing chemotherapy (PCC) regimens.


METHODS
Forty-four patients with stage IIIb or IV platinum-refractory non-small-cell lung cancer were treated with 100 mg/m2 of docetaxel intravenously over 1 hour every 3 weeks. The responses of 42 of 44 patients were assessable. Most patients had a Zubrod performance status of 1; the predominant histologic type was adenocarcinoma (61%), and 91% of patients had stage IV disease.


RESULTS
Nine of 42 assessable patients (21%) achieved a partial response to treatment. The median response duration (from response to progression) was 17 weeks, and the projected median survival duration of all patients is 42 weeks (51 weeks for adenocarcinoma and 22 weeks for nonadenocarcinoma). Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 85% of patients and was associated with fever that required intravenous antibiotics in 16% of patients (3% of cycles). Other acute side effects included easily treated hypersensitivity reactions and dermatitis. Cumulative side effects included fluid retention and neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel administered at 100 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks has notable activity against platinum-refractory non-small-cell lung cancer, with a 21% major response rate. Primary side effects were neutropenia, hypersensitivity, and fluid retention.
Fossella
F V
FV
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Houston 77030.
Lee
J S
JS
Shin
D M
DM
Calayag
M
M
Huber
M
M
Perez-Soler
R
R
Murphy
W K
WK
Lippman
S
S
Benner
S
S
Glisson
B
B
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin