Paclitaxel for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a phase II study of the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
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.
van Meerbeeck
J
J
University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Debruyne
C
C
van Zandwijk
N
N
Postmus
P E
PE
Pennucci
M C
MC
van Breukelen
F
F
Galdermans
D
D
Groen
H
H
Pinson
P
P
van Glabbeke
M
M
van Marck
E
E
Giaccone
G
G
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*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel