T. Le Chevalier et al., Docetaxel (Taxotere((R))) plus cisplatin: an active and well-tolerated combination in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, EUR J CANC, 34(13), 1998, pp. 2032-2036
The activity of the combination of intravenous docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) plus ci
splatin 10 mg/m(2) administered every 3 weeks for 3 cycles then every 6 wee
ks was investigated in 51 chemotherapy naive patients with locally advanced
or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The population was 92% m
ale, with a median age of 54 years and median performance status of 1; 80%
of patients had metastatic disease, including 37% with hone involvement. Al
l patients received prophylactic premedication (ondansetron, dexamethasone
plus cetirizine) and standard hyperhydration. With a median of 4 treatment
cycles (range 1-9), 14 of 42 evaluable patients responded (overall response
rate 33.3%, 95% CI 19.6-49.6%); the median response duration was 7.3 month
s, median survival 8.4 months, and 1-year survival rate 35%. The most commo
n adverse event was neutropenia, occurring in two-thirds of patients. Neuro
sensory effects were cumulative hut generally mild. No treatment-related de
aths occurred. This combination of docetaxel/cisplatin showed activity in a
dvanced NSCLC, While it was not clearly superior to single-agent docetaxel,
due to differences in prognostic factors among the patients in open trials
, a randomised study would he needed to demonstrate definitively whether ci
splatin adds to the activity of docetaxel or not. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.