title: Paclitaxel for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a phase II study of the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
abstract: The EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group undertook a phase II study of paclitaxel in 25 chemotherapy-naive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Paclitaxel was given intravenously at a dose of 200 mg m-2 as a 3 h infusion every 3 weeks, after standard premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines. This regimen was well tolerated, with < 4% of cycles resulting in severe toxicity. No major objective responses were observed and ten patients had stable disease. Median survival time was 39 weeks and the 1 year survival rate was 30%. In conclusion, paclitaxel at the dose and schedule investigated in this trial had no major activity in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Meerbeeck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debruyne
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Zandwijk
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Postmus
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pennucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Breukelen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galdermans
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Glabbeke
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Marck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giaccone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel