title: A retrospective analysis of safety and efficacy of weekly nab-paclitaxel as second-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the anticancer effect and toxicity of weekly administered nab-paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with relapsed squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the treatment of 42 elderly patients with relapsed squamous NSCLC, who received nab-paclitaxel monotherapy as a second-line treatment from January 2010 to March 2014. A dose of 100 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel was administered weekly on days 1, 8, and 15, followed by 1 week of rest. The protocol was maintained for at least two cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate (DCR) were 21.43% (9/42) and 47.62% (20/42), respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.6 and 10.9 months, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, there was no significant difference in ORR, DCR, PFS, and OS, accounting for the first-line therapy factors (taxane agent, radiotherapy, or surgery). There was a statistically significant difference in DCR for stages III and IV (62.96% vs 20%, P=0.008), but there was no such difference in either PFS or OS. The ORR of 29 patients receiving more than three cycles of treatment was higher than that of those receiving less than three cycles of treatment (31.03% vs 0%, P=0.038), and there was a significant difference in PFS (7.6 vs 4.9 months, P=0.004) and OS (11.7 vs 8.9 months, P=0.002). No hypersensitivity reactions or treatment-related grade 4 adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nab-paclitaxel monotherapy administered weekly at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) is shown to be an effective and safe regimen for elderly patients with relapsed squamous NSCLC, especially for patients with stage III disease or good performance status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China; Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China; Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China; Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China; Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China; Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002681:China; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C520255:130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel; D000418:Albumins; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: elderly; nab-paclitaxel; non-small-cell lung cancer; second line; squamous