Phase II study of a biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
In this study, 48 patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC were given combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel 40 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2); both drugs were given biweekly, on days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks.


RESULTS
A partial response and stable disease were observed in 25 patients (52.1%, 95% CI: 38.7-66.9%) and ten patients (20.8%), respectively. The overall median survival was 14.0 months (95% CI: 7.10-20.9 months). There was no treatment-related mortality. The major toxicity was grade 2 asthenia (35.4%). Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in two patients (4.2%), as was grade 3 infection (4.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
As a front-line chemotherapy in an outpatient setting for patients with metastatic NSCLC, the biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin showed effective antitumor activity with a marked reduction in hematologic toxicity, comparable to the results of previous studies using 3-week or weekly schedules. Further randomized studies are needed before this can be accepted as a standard schedule.
Cho
Su-Hee
SH
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Go
Se-Il
SI
Lee
Gyeong-Won
GW
Kang
Jung Hun
JH
Kim
Hoon-Gu
HG
Kim
Seok Hyun
SH
Cho
Yu Ji
YJ
Jeong
Yi Yeong
YY
Kim
Ho-Cheol
HC
Lee
Jong Duk
JD
Hwang
Young Sil
YS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001247:Asthenia / Q000209:etiology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin