Second line chemotherapy for NSCLC: establishing a gold standard.
When compared with best supportive care alone, the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel significantly improved the 1-year survival rate (37 vs. 12%) and lengthened time to disease progression (median 12.3 vs. 7.0 weeks) in study TAX 317. Quality of life was superior with docetaxel and the need for tumor-related therapy was reduced. Docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) in this setting is safe, and offers clinically meaningful benefit to patients. These findings are supported by data from study TAX 320 in which a heavily pre-treated population of advanced NSCLC patients was randomized to receive docetaxel 100 mg/m(2), docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) or a comparator arm of either vinorelbine or ifosfamide. Treatment with either dose of docetaxel significantly increased the proportion of patients without disease progression at 26 weeks. By intent to treat analysis, 1-year survival was 32% in patients randomized to docetaxel 75 mg/m(2). This was significantly greater than the 19% 1-year survival rate in the comparator arm. Prior exposure to paclitaxel did not lessen the response rate or survival advantage of docetaxel in this second-line setting. Future development is likely to lie in the combination of docetaxel with novel molecular-targeted agents such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Fossella
Frank V
FV
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Box 432, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Lynch
Thomas
T
Shepherd
Frances A
FA
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel