Paclitaxel/cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
BACKGROUND
Paclitaxel (Taxol) as single agent has shown promising activity in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because paclitaxel lends itself to combination with other anticancer drugs, we have determined the efficacy of paclitaxel combined with cisplatin in patients with advanced NSCLC in a phase II trial.


METHODS
Twenty patients with NSCLC stage IIIB or IV were treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) as a 3-hour infusion after standard premedication on day 1 and cisplatin (50 mg/m2 daily) on days 1 and 2. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks.


RESULTS
All 20 patients were evaluable for response and toxic effects. Partial responses were seen in 7 (35%) patients and no change in 9 (45%) patients. Major side effects included leukopenia, anemia, alopecia and dose-limiting neurotoxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel/cisplatin has shown good antitumor activity in patients with advanced NSCLC and should be further evaluated in this disease. Because neurotoxicity has been dose-limiting, methods for its prevention or early detection should further enhance the clinical value of this combination chemotherapy.
Pirker
R
R
Department of Oncology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
Krajnik
G
G
Zöchbauer
S
S
Malayeri
R
R
Kneussl
M
M
Huber
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin