title: Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel in previously untreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New effective therapy is desirable for outpatients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fractionated administration of paclitaxel may be less toxic and more active against NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel therapy for chemotherapy-naive NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with pathological or cytological diagnosis of NSCLC, measurable lesions, and no prior therapy were enrolled. We administered weekly infusions of 80 mg/m(2) paclitaxel 3 times in a 4-week cycle. In the absence of progressive disease or intolerable toxicity, we treated each patient for a minimum of four cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 35 patients enrolled, 17 patients achieved partial response, although no complete responses were observed (response rate 49%; 95% confidence interval 32-66%). The median survival time was 55 weeks (range 6-93 weeks). Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in only 1 patient (3%). Neurotoxicity was the most frequent adverse effect (grades 1 and 2, 26 and 3%, respectively). Serious toxicity, observed in 2 patients (6%), was interstitial pneumonia, and 1 patient died from sequela.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose weekly paclitaxel is a promising therapy for advanced NSCLC with high effectiveness and low toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igishi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Mitsunobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sako
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigeoka
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugitani
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Histuda
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel