Paclitaxel/Platinum-based perioperative chemotherapy and surgery in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the present study were to assess the efficacy and tolerability of perioperative paclitaxel/platinum-based chemotherapy and surgery in patients with stage IIIA clinical N2 (cN2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Clinical N2 was defined as either >15 mm or >10 mm and multiple nodes on computed tomography (CT) scan. Thirty-four chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIA cN2 received preoperative paclitaxel/cisplatin for two cycles and then underwent surgery. The treatment with paclitaxel/carboplatin was repeated for three cycles after the operation.


RESULTS
Of the 34 patients, none achieved a complete response (CR) and 22 achieved a partial response (PR), resulting in a response rate of 65%. Among 29 patients (85%) who had received thoracotomy, 25 (74%) underwent complete resection. Two pathological CRs were observed and mediastinal nodes were free of tumor in 21%. Grade 3-4 toxicity was uncommon and treatment-related mortality was not observed. The median time to progression (TTP) was 12.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.3-15.9 months] and median overall survival (OS) was 23.6 months (95% CI 17.7-30.2 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel/platinum-based perioperative chemotherapy and surgery for patients with stage IIIA cN2 NSCLC is effective and well tolerated.
Choi
In Sil
IS
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. kimty@snu.ac.kr.
Oh
Do-Youn
DY
Kwon
Jung Hye
JH
Kim
Sang-Il
SI
Park
Sook Ryun
SR
Bak
Ji-Youn
JY
Kim
Jee Hyun
JH
Kim
Dong-Wan
DW
Kim
Young Tae
YT
Kim
Tae-You
TY
You
Chul-Kyu
CK
Kim
Young Whan
YW
Heo
Dae Seog
DS
Bang
Yung-Jue
YJ
Sung
Sook Whan
SW
Park
Chan-Il
CI
Kim
Noe Kyeong
NK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019990:Perioperative Care; D010984:Platinum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010984:Platinum; D017239:Paclitaxel