title: Weekly carboplatin in combination with weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a single center 10-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this retrospective analysis is to assess efficacy and toxicity of a chemotherapeutic regimen using weekly carboplatin in combination with weekly paclitaxel as first-line therapy for advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC treated with weekly carboplatin AUC (area under the curve) 3 days 1, 8, 15, q4w in combination with weekly paclitaxel 75 mg/m(2) days 1, 8, 15, q4w as first-line therapy at the Kantonsspital Graubuenden between August 2004 and May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed by medical record review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 90 patients were treated. Median age was 66 years (range 39-88). A total of 229 chemotherapy cycles were administered. Hematological and non-hematological toxicity were acceptable allowing for a median relative dose intensity for all planned treatment cycles of 76 %. Overall response rate was 34 %. Median overall and progression free survival was 6.3 (95 % CI, 4.9-8.7) and 3.4 (95 % CI, 2.3-5.1) months, respectively. Patients with an ECOG performance score (PS) of 0 or 1 had a significantly better OS compared to patients with a PS of ≥2. No statistically significant difference was observed in patients younger or older than 70 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly carboplatin in combination with weekly paclitaxel results in good response rates and acceptable toxicity in patients with advanced and metastatic NSCLC including patients with poor risk features (brain metastases, older age, and impaired PS). Nonetheless, selecting the right patient for a platinum-based combination treatment remains an important task in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestrasse 170, CH-7000, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cathomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestrasse 170, CH-7000, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestrasse 170, CH-7000, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Moos
authors.affiliation: Statistics Unit, SAKK Swiss Group for Cancer Research Coordinating Center, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klingbiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brossart
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestrasse 170, CH-7000, Chur, Switzerland. ulrich.mey@ksgr.ch.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: Carboplatin; Non-small cell lung cancer; Paclitaxel; Weekly