title: A multicenter phase II study of the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel in previously treated patients with small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel in pretreated patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two pretreated patients (median age 61 years, PS: 0-1 in 77% and 2 in 23%) with limited or extensive stage disease were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 8, every 21 days. Fifteen (68%) of the 22 patients had received two prior regimens and fourteen (64%) were refractory to front-line chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were evaluable for efficacy analysis. No complete or partial responses were observed. Disease stabilization was obtained in one (5%) patient. The median survival was 14 weeks and the six-month survival rate was 28%. WHO grade 2 and 3 toxicities were infrequent and easily manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel was inactive as salvage treatment in this poor prognosis group of patients with SCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, PO. Box 1352, Heraklion, Crete 711 10, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agelaki
authors.forename: Marinos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veslemes
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syrigos
authors.forename: Filippos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palamidas
authors.forename: Aristidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papakotoulas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kentepozidis
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milaki
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tzanakis
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kouroussis
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vamvakas
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine