Weekly low-dose docetaxel in advanced non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with two chemotherapy regimens.
BACKGROUND
The role of salvage chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still controversial, but the recent development of a number of active antineoplastic agents has created new possibilities for disease management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and safety of weekly docetaxel treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC previously treated with two chemotherapy regimens.


METHODS
The study involved 26 patients with histologically documented stage IIIB, IV or recurrent metastatic NSCLC previously treated with two non-taxane based-chemotherapy regimens. They all received docetaxel 25 mg/m(2)/week administered as a 1-h infusion in an outpatient setting with corticosteroid premedication.


RESULTS
Fourteen of the 26 patients (54%) had distant metastases and 12 (46%) chest-localised disease. Six patients (23%; confidence interval: 9.8-44.1%) showed a partial response, 8 (31%) stable disease, and 12 (46%) progressive disease. The median time to progression was 4 months (range 2-8), and the median survival was 7+ months (range 3-13+). There were no statistically significant differences between the global quality of life scores recorded at baseline and those recorded after subsequent cycles. The treatment was very well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that weekly low-dose docetaxel is effective, well tolerated and maintains a relatively good quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC previously exposed to two chemotherapy regimens.
Petrioli
Roberto
R
Medical Oncology Division, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico le Scotte, Viale Bracci 11, 53100, Siena, Italy.
Pozzessere
Daniele
D
Messinese
Simona
S
Sabatino
Marianna
M
Ceciarini
Federica
F
Marsili
Stefania
S
Correale
Pierpaolo
P
Fiaschi
Anna Ida
AI
Voltolini
Luca
L
Gotti
Giuseppe
G
Francini
Guido
G
D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel