Multicentre phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: To evaluate weekly induction chemotherapy followed by weekly concomitant chemoradiotherapy in a multicentre phase II study of patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage wet IIIB excluded).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients received three weekly cycles of paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 followed by six weekly cycles of paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 in combination with thoracic radiotherapy (2 Gy per fraction and day to a total dose of 60 Gy).

Results: Sixty-four patients (40 males and 24 females) with a median age of 63 years (range, 43-79 years) entered the study.

Epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa for the treatment of chemotherapy-related anemia in cancer patients in Sweden: comparative analysis of drug utilization, costs, and hematologic response.

A retrospective chart review was performed at 3 Swedish hospitals to evaluate the utilization, outcomes, and cost of using epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa to treat cancer patients with chemotherapy-related anemia. Data on dosage, duration of treatment, hematologic response, red blood cell transfusions, and healthcare resource consumption were collected and analyzed at various time points following the initiation of drug therapy. A significantly faster hematologic response and increase in hemoglobin were observed in patients treated with epoetin alfa.