Weekly docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: phase II trial.
BACKGROUND
Open-label, single-centre Phase II trial evaluating the toxicity and antitumour activity of weekly docetaxel in the second-line management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Treatment comprised docetaxel 35 mg/m2 weekly for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks' rest for a maximum of 3 cycles.


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients received 220 weekly doses of docetaxel. Toxicity was generally mild: no grade 3-4 haematological toxicity; one grade 4 non-haematological event (bloody diarrhoea in a patient with pre-existing colon diverticulitis). Nausea (11%) and asthenia (8%) constituted the main grade 3 non-haematological toxicities. The objective response rate was 11% (14% minor response, 25% stable disease) and the median duration of survival upon the initiation of docetaxel was 160 days, with a 1-year survival rate of 23%.


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel is active and well tolerated in the second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC and appears to yield an improved therapeutic index versus 3-weekly regimens.
Serke
Monika
M
Zentralklinik Emil von Behring, Department Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, Zum Heckeshorn 33, 14109 Berlin, Germany. m.serke@zevb.de
Schoenfeld
Nikolas
N
Loddenkemper
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel