title: Biweekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine as adjuvant therapy for stage II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the overall survival, progression-free survival, and toxicity associated with adjuvant administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine for completely resected patients with stage II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine eligible patients had surgical resection for pathological stage II or IIIA disease and received postoperative gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 followed by docetaxel 80 mg/m2 on days 1 and 14. Cycles were repeated every 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment compliance was acceptable, at 83%. The median duration of follow-up, time to disease progression, and overall survival was 36.7 months, 17 months and 21 months, respectively. Toxicities were acceptable. Treatment failure revealed brain metastasis (15%), intrathoracic recurrence (24%) and systemic metastasis (36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biweekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine is a safe, well-tolerated and convenient chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant setting of completely resected NSCLC stage II and III, with efficacy similar to that reported in other regimens. Hence, this nonplatinum based regimen appears promising and warrants further evaluation.
authors: Athens University School of Medicine, Head, Oncology Unit, Third Department of Medicine, Athens School of Medicine, Building Z, Sotiria General Hospital, Mesogion 152, 115 27 Athens, Greece. knsyrigos@usa.net
authors: Konstantinos N
authors: KN
authors: Syrigos
authors: Marios
authors: M
authors: Konstantinou
authors: Evangellos
authors: E
authors: Sepsas
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Papamichales
authors: Achilleas
authors: A
authors: Loullias
authors: Ionas
authors: I
authors: Belenis
authors: Ionas
authors: I
authors: Skottis
authors: Andriani
authors: A
authors: Charpidou
authors: Charalambos
authors: C
authors: Roussos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine