title: Survival outcome of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving conventional dose epirubicin and Paclitaxel as first-line treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-dose epirubicin was shown to be effective in the treatment of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Paclitaxel is synergistic to a conventional dose of anthracyclines in the treatment of advanced cancer. A phase II study was designed to test the effectiveness of combining paclitaxel with a conventional dose of epirubicin in inoperable NSCLC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligibility criteria included inoperable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC patients, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, measurable or evaluable disease and adequate organ function. Epirubicin 70 mg/m2 intravenous infusion for 15 min was given on day 1. Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 intravenous infusion for 3 h was given on day 2. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. Tumor response was evaluated every two cycles. Patients received treatment until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or stable disease after cycle 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight patients received a total of 185 cycles (median 6 cycles). Seventeen patients responded to treatment (response rate 44.7%). Twenty-six (68%) patients received second-line chemotherapy. All patients were followed until their death. Median survival was 11.9 months (95% confidence interval 9.0-14.9 months). Median time-to-treatment-failure was 4.6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional dose epirubicin plus paclitaxel is effective as a first-line treatment for inoperable NSCLC patients.
authors: Department of Oncology and Cancer Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. pcyang@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
authors: Chih-Hsin
authors: CH
authors: Yang
authors: Min-Chun
authors: MC
authors: Chen
authors: Ann-Lii
authors: AL
authors: Cheng
authors: Chih-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Hsu
authors: Kun-Huei
authors: KH
authors: Yeh
authors: Yu-Chie
authors: YC
authors: Yu
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Whang-Peng
authors: Pan-Chyr
authors: PC
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel