Pilot phase II study of weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin for refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The safety and efficacy of weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin for the treatment of patients with refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were evaluated.


METHODS
Paclitaxel (100 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (with a target area under the concentration versus time curve of 2 mg min/ml using the Calvert formula) were administered to patients with previously- treated SCLC on days 1 and 8 at every 3-4 weeks.


RESULTS
A total of 29 patients (pts) [male/female, 26/3 pts; median age 62.7 years (43-74); performance status 0/1/2, 9/10/10 pts] were enrolled between March 2000 and June 2002. The mean number of cycles administered per pt was 3 (1-7). The overall response rate was 69% (95% confidence interval 52-86%), and 83% (15/18) in sensitive pts and 45% (5/11) in refractory pts (P<0.01). The overall median survival time was 29.6 weeks with a 1-year survival rate of 37% [34.1 weeks in sensitive pts and 23.1 weeks in refractory pts (P=0.085), 46.9 weeks in PS 0-1 and 16.3 weeks in PS 2 (P<0.001)]. The median time to progressive disease was 16.4 weeks [21.7 weeks in sensitive pts and 15.3 weeks in refractory pts (P=0.32)]. Hematologic toxicities observed included grade >or=3 neutropenia in 55%, grade >or=3 anemia in 36%, and grade >or=3 thrombocytopenia in 3%. Non-hematologic toxicities were mild except for grade 3 diarrhea in three pts and grade 3 pneumonitis in one pt.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin was well- tolerated and gave a high-response rate in pts with refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer.
Mori
Kiyoshi
K
Department of Thoracic Diseases, Tochigi Cancer Center, 4-9-13 Yonan, Utsunomiya, 320-0834 Tochigi, Japan. kmori@tcc.pref.tochigi.jp
Kamiyama
Yukari
Y
Kondo
Tetsuro
T
Kano
Yasuhiko
Y
Kodama
Tetsuro
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel