A Prospective Phase I/II Study: Combination Chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Pemetrexed as Second-Line Treatment in Patients with Stage IIIB/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Two standard single-agent chemotherapy treatments (docetaxel and pemetrexed) were combined in this trial and administered as second-line treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of combining docetaxel with pemetrexed.

Methods: Six patients were enrolled between August 2007 and March 2009 with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC.

Randomized phase III trial of docetaxel plus carboplatin with or without levofloxacin prophylaxis in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the APRONTA trial.

Purpose: To examine the effect of levofloxacin prophylaxis on infection rates during chemotherapy with docetaxel plus carboplatin in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, phase III study, patients (≥65 years) with untreated, histologically/cytologically proven stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer received docetaxel (75 mg/m) plus carboplatin (area under the curve 6) on day 1 every 3 weeks, plus once-daily levofloxacin (500 mg orally) or placebo on days 5 to 11. The primary end point was the rate of grade 3/4 infections or grade 1/2 infections treated with additional antibiotics.

Addition of darbepoetin alfa to dose-dense chemotherapy: results from a randomized phase II trial in small-cell lung cancer patients receiving carboplatin plus etoposide.

Darbepoetin alfa, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), is used in cancer patients as a supportive care for anemia. For small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), several studies have shown that the administration of ESAs does not affect survival but decreases the need for blood transfusions and improves the quality of life (QOL) of patients receiving chemotherapy. The present randomized phase II study assessed the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the administration of darbepoetin alfa to patients with SCLC receiving dose-dense (every 2 weeks) standard chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin plus etoposide, pegfilgrastim prophylactically.

Gemcitabine and carboplatin in combination for the treatment of advanced, metastatic, non-small cell lung cancer.

The universally accepted first-line treatment for advanced (stage IIIB effusion/IV) non-small-cell lung cancer in patients with a good performance status is a platinum drug in combination with one of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, vinorelbine or docetaxel. Although cisplatin is generally the favoured platinum agent, gemcitabine partnered with carboplatin is convenient to administer and has a favourable toxicity profile. Here, the pharmacology, preclinical and clinical data to support the use of this regimen for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is evaluated.

Phase III study of second-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with weekly compared with 3-weekly docetaxel.

Purpose: A phase III study to determine whether a weekly docetaxel schedule improves the therapeutic index compared with the classic 3-weekly schedule.

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly assigned to docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks (3-weekly) and 35 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 (weekly) for < or = eight cycles. End points included survival (primary), toxicity, and response.

Phase II trial of gemcitabine/irinotecan in refractory or relapsed small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Gemcitabine and irinotecan have shown a broad range of activity in solid tumors, including small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), with a synergistic effect on SCLC cell lines. The objective of this phase II trial was to evaluate the activity of gemcitabine/irinotecan in patients with relapsed SCLC.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-five patients (15 with refractory disease and 20 with sensitive disease) who had experienced treatment failure with 1 previous chemotherapy regimen were recruited.

Clinical benefit in NSCLC: advanced-stage patients require symptom-improving palliation. Experiences from the 'Iressa' expanded access program.

Background: The molecular genesis of lung cancer and its treatment remain hot spots of medical research because of the high mortality rates especially associated with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). New agents are required. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) has been the first approved drug for NSCLC within this new therapeutic class.