title: Comparison of cisplatin-paclitaxel combination versus cisplatin-etoposide in patients with small-cell lung cancer: a Phase III study.
abstract: Cisplatin-paclitaxel and cisplatin-etoposide combination therapies were compared in limited and extensive disease in patients with small-cell lung cancer. The primary objectives were to determine median and overall survival, time to tumor progression and tolerance and the secondary objective, the response rate. From January 2003 till July 2007, 108 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients had histologically- or cytologically-confirmed small-cell lung cancer. All patients were chemotherapy and radiotherapy naive. The patients were designated to receive six cycles: in the investigational Arm A, cisplatin, 80 mg/m(2) and paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) were infused on day 1 (1 cycle) and repeated every 3 weeks. In the control Arm B, cisplatin, 80 mg/m(2) was administered on day 1 and etoposide, 120 mg/m(2) per day was given on days 1-3 (1 cycle), every 3 weeks. In Arm A, 6 (11.3%) patients achieved a complete response and 32 (58.1%), a partial response; in Arm B, 7 (12.7%) patients achieved a complete response and 32 (58.2%) a partial response. The median survival time in Arm A patients was 12 months and in Arm B, 13 months, p=0.354. The time to tumor progression (TTP) was 8 and 6 months for Arms A and B, respectively (p=0.060). Toxicity, although common in both Arms, was acceptable. Neutropenia, anemia and diarrhea were higher in the control Arm. The cisplatin-paclitaxel combination is not superior to cisplatin-etoposide with respect to survival, TTP, toxicity and response rate. The former combination could be applied as an alternative chemotherapy regimen for patients with limited or advanced small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Thoracic Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapti
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: Sotiris
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koutantos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasiadis
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsikritsaki
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karaindros
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katis
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toumbis
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giamboudakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin