Retrospective analysis of administration of a combination of docetaxel andcarboplatin for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Retrospective analysis was performed for 60 patients with advanced non-smal l-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had been treated with combination therapy co mbining 60 mg/m(2) of docetaxel with carboplatin in the range of 200 to 360 mg/m(2) (average: 290 mg/m every 3 weeks. Considering the patients' perfor mance status, the dose of carboplatin was lowered accordingly, being equiva lent to A UC 1.9 to 6.1 (average: 3.26) by the Chatelut formula. The mean t reatment cycle was 2.3 (range 1 to 7). Complete response and partial respon se were observed in 2 and 18 (37.0%) of the 54 evaluable patients, respecti vely, with a median survival time of 12.8 months and 1-year survival of 56. 4%. The calculated AUC of carboplatin was not proportional to the response rate. Moderate myelosuppression was exhibited. The severity of leukopenia i ncreased in relation to the AUC of carboplatin (R-2 = 0.1093), whereas the relation between the platelet count and the AUC of carboplatin was relative ly disproportional (R-2 = 0.0553). Although gastrointestinal toxicity was s light, its severity increased dependent on the AUC of carboplatin. No occur rence of neurotoxicity was observed. Treatment with a combination of doceta xel and low-dose carboplatin seemed to be effective and safer inpatients wi th advanced NSCLC.