Bi-weekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine as first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.
BACKGROUND
The standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) currently consists of platinum-based, combination chemotherapy of limited efficacy and possible toxicity. The bi-weekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine for advanced NSCLC was evaluated in a phase II study (objective response rate, median survival, median duration of response and safety).


METHODS
A total of 170 cycles were administered to 31 patients with advanced NSCLC and a median age of 66 years (range 47-75 years). Patients received docetaxel 80 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients achieved a PR (16/31, 55.2%), 3 patients had SD (3/31, 10.3%) and 10 (10/31, 34.5%) had PD. The median time to disease progression was 3 months (range 0-12 months) with a mean survival of 10 months (range 3-31 months). Haematological and non-haematological toxic effects were generally mild to moderate and manageable: Grade 3 neurotoxicity and allergy occurred in 2 patients (6.4%) and 1 patient (3.2%), respectively. Peripheral neuropathy, mostly grades 1 and 2, was reported in 24 patients (77.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The bi-weekly administration of a docetaxel/gemcitabine combination with G-CSF support constitutes a tolerable and convenient regimen for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, with efficacy similar to that reported in other regimens.
Syrigos
Konstantinos N
KN
Oncology Unit, Third Department of Medicine, University of Athens School of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece. knsyrigos@usa.net
Dannos
Ioannis
I
Dionellis
Georgios
G
Bofos
Ioannis
I
Alamara
Christina
C
Dimakou
Ekaterini
E
Stratakos
Grigorios
G
Papiris
Spyros
S
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine