title: Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and extended-schedule oral etoposide for small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of combination paclitaxel (Taxol) (via 1-hour infusion), carboplatin (Paraplatin), and oral etoposide (VePesid) in the first-line treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer. Between June 1993 and July 1996, 117 patients with small-cell lung cancer. were treated in two sequential phase II studies. The first 38 patients received a lower-dose regimen: paclitaxel 135 mg/m2, via 1-hour infusion; carboplatin dosed to an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 5.0, and oral etoposide 50 mg alternating with 100 mg on days 1 through 10. Based on a very favorable toxicity profile, the paclitaxel and carboplatin doses were increased in the subsequent cohort of 79 patients (paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 by 1-hour infusion; carboplatin target AUC increased to 6.0). Thoracic radiation therapy (1.8 Gy/day; total dose, 45 Gy) was administered concurrently with courses 3 and 4 of chemotherapy in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. The combination of paclitaxel 200 mg/m2, carboplatin to an AUC of 6.0, and extended-schedule oral etoposide 50 or 100 mg alternating days 1 through 10 is highly active and well tolerated in patients with small-cell lung cancer. The regimen can be administered concurrently with radiation therapy with no unusual side effects, although a minority of patients develop esophagitis. Median survival rates in patients with both extensive- and limited-stage disease compare favorably with other reported regimens.
authors.affiliation: Sarah Cannon-Minnie Pearl Cancer Center, Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hainsworth
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Greco
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel