title: Prospective study of paclitaxel and irinotecan for elderly patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: We conducted a phase II study of combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel (Pac) and irinotecan (CPT) to determine the effects and toxicities in patients 70 years or older with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eligible patients were entered to receive three courses of Pac at 160 mg/m2 and CPT at 60 mg/m2 every 2-3 weeks. Twenty-one patients were registered. Thirteen patients were male and 8 were female, with a median age of 72 years (range: 70-82 years). Eight patients had a performance status (PS) of 0 and the other 13 patients had a PS of 1. Six and 15 patients were stage IIIB and stage IV, respectively. Ten patients received 3 to 6 cycles of the chemotherapy. Of the hematological toxicities, grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 23.8% of the patients. Of the non-hematological toxicities, grade 3 or 4 fatigue, anorexia and nausea were observed in 5, 3 and 4 patients, respectively. Three of 6 patients with infection developed grade 3 pneumonia. Grade 3 allergy with rash occurred in a patient. Cerebral infarction occurred in two patients and grade 3 peripheral neuropathy in one. The outcome of the Pac and CPT regimen in 21 patients was 8 PR, 10 SD and three PD, and the response rate was 38.1% The median survival time was 9.1 months. The one- and 2-year survival rates were 38.1% and 19.0%, respectively. The Pac plus CPT regimen is feasible and active with moderate toxicity for elderly patients with NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Nakao 1-1-2, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0815, Japan. foshita@kcch.jp
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Nakao 1-1-2, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0815, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Nakao 1-1-2, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0815, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Nakao 1-1-2, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0815, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruhiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Nakao 1-1-2, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-0815, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000077146:Irinotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002166:Camptothecin