A phase II study testing paclitaxel as second-line single agent treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer failing after a first-line chemotherapy.
The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This multicentric trial included patients who had failed to a first-line chemotherapy with platinum derivatives and/or ifosfamide. After registration, patients were treated by paclitaxel i.v. at a dose of 225 mg/m(2) given over 3 h administered every 3 weeks. Response was assessed after three courses of therapy. Sixty-seven patients were registered, one was ineligible and 64 were assessable for response. Two partial responses were observed (3% of the eligible patients; 95% confidence interval: 0-7%). No change was documented in 16 cases (24%). Tolerance was acceptable, the main toxicity being cumulative polyneuropathy. Median survival duration was 4.5 months with a 1-year rate at 19%. We concluded that paclitaxel is not active in terms of response as second-line chemotherapy for NSCLC.
Sculier
J P
JP
Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, rue Héger-Bordet, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium. sculier@bordet.be
Berghmans
T
T
Lafitte
J J
JJ
Richez
M
M
Recloux
P
P
Van Cutsem
O
O
Ninane
V
V
Mommen
P
P
Paesmans
M
M
Klastersky
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced; D013534:Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel