title: Combination therapy with docetaxel and low dose of cisplatin in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: multicenter phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy with docetaxel and cisplatin (CDDP) at low doses in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 patients aged > or =70 years with previously untreated advanced NSCLC received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) plus CDDP 50 mg/m(2) on day 1. The regimen was repeated every 21 days. Patients received a minimum of three courses unless progressive disease was detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By intent-to-treat analysis, the overall response rate was 31% (95% CI, 17.8-47.2%). A total of 18 patients (43%) had stable disease and 11 (26%) progressed. Median time to progression was 5.2 months. Overall median survival was 8.9 months, with 1-year actuarial survival rate of 41%. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was improved in 18 patients (43%). The chemotherapy regimen was well tolerated. A total of 11 patients (26%) had grade 3/4 adverse events: 7 (17%) neutropenia (one of them was diagnosed with febrile neutropenia), 3 (7%) asthenia, 3 (7%) nausea/vomiting, 1 (2%) diarrhea, 1 (2%) thrombocytopenia and 1 (2%) neurotoxicity. No death due to toxicity was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of low-dose CDDP and docetaxel for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC is an efficient and well-tolerated chemotherapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Service, La Paz Hospital, P masculine de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain. jaimefeliu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Firvida
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Catherina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madroñal
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Jaráiz
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Cristóbal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belda-Iniesta
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Mata
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Barón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin