Carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel in non-small cell lung cancer patients unfit for or pretreated with chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Carboplatin-Paclitaxel is one of the most active regimens in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We assessed the administration of weekly Paclitaxel as second-line chemotherapy, or as first-line chemotherapy in unfit patients.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients received Carboplatin at the dose of 6 x area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) on day 1 and Paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 every 28. Thirty-two had received a prior platinum-based treatment, while 16 were chemotherapy-naive, unfit patients.


RESULTS
Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 16 patients (33%); grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 7 (15%); grade 1-3 peripheral sensory neuropathy in 35 (73%). Nineteen patients (39.6%; 95% C.I.: 25.8% - 53.4%) achieved an objective response without any difference between the first-line and second-line group. One-year survival was 39.5% (95% CI: 25.4% - 53.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
The impressive activity of this regimen makes it suitable for further investigation in the second-line setting. Toxicity seen in the unfit population mandates some modification of the regimen.
Numico
Gianmauro
G
Medical Oncology, S. Croce General Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, Italy. gnumico@libero.it
Colantonio
Ida
I
Gasco
Milena
M
Bertelli
Gianfilippo
G
Garrone
Ornella
O
Occelli
Marcella
M
Fea
Elena
E
Di Costanzo
Gianna
G
Granetto
Cristina
C
Heouaine
Abdelamid
A
Russi
Elvio
E
Merlano
Marco
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010349:Patient Compliance
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel