Survival outcome of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving conventional dose epirubicin and Paclitaxel as first-line treatment.
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.
Yang
Chih-Hsin
CH
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
Chen
Min-Chun
MC
Cheng
Ann-Lii
AL
Hsu
Chih-Hung
CH
Yeh
Kun-Huei
KH
Yu
Yu-Chie
YC
Whang-Peng
Jacqueline
J
Yang
Pan-Chyr
PC
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
D015251:Epirubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel