title: Efficacy of modified regimen with attenuated doses of paclitaxel plus carboplatin combination chemotherapy in elderly and/or weak patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to evaluate the activity and toxicity of a combination regimen of paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with advanced NSCLC aged 65 years or older and/or in those with an ECOG performance status (PS) 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemotherapy-naive patients with unresectable pathologically-proven NSCLC and of either age >or=65 or ECOG PS 2 were eligible. Patients received modified regimen with attenuated doses of paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2) i.v. for 3 h D1) and carboplatin (AUC=5, D1) every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were enrolled. Nineteen patients were aged 65 or older (54%) and 26 patients (74%) were ECOG PS 2. The objective response rate was 40% with 14 partial responses. The median time to progression was 22 weeks. Grade 3 leucopenia occurred in 1 cycle and one case of neutropenic fever.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified regimen with attenuated doses of paclitaxel plus carboplatin combination chemotherapy was effective and well tolerated in patients with advanced NSCLC aged 65 years or older and/or in those with ECOG PS 2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Sil
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook Ryun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do Yeun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-You
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Seog
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Yung-Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Noe Kyeong
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel