title: Triplet chemotherapy with docetaxel, gemcitabine and liposomal doxorubicin, supported with subcutaneous amifostine and hemopoietic growth factors, in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The activity of a triplet of chemotherapeutic drugs, namely docetaxel, gemcitabine and liposomal doxorubicin, was investigated in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The regimen was supported with amifostine cytoprotection (1000mg injected subcutaneously) and hemopoietic growth factors (rhuG-CSF and rhuEPO) in an attempt to minimize the substantial toxicity reported in previous studies investigating docetaxel/gemcitabine chemotherapy. Twenty chemotherapy- naïve patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (18 with stage IV and 2 with stage IIIb) were recruited. None of the patients presented with grade 3-4 hematological or non-hematological toxicity. Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia grade 2 was noted in 6/20 (30%), mucositisloesophagitis grade 2 in 3/20 (15%) and mild alopecia in 6/20 (30%) patients. No case of interstitial pneumonia was noted. The overall response rate (complete and partial) in 18 evaluable patients was 33% (6/18), with 1/18 (5%) patients achieving complete response. The median survival was 11 months. The efficacy of the regimen was as high as the one reported in gemcitabine/docetaxel studies, but the toxicity was remarkably lower. Amifostine may have contributed to the better tolerance profile observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology and Radiotherapy-Oncology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Patlakas
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsantekidou-Pozova
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004999:Amifostine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001247:Asthenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004999:Amifostine; D000093542:Gemcitabine