Modified, weekly dosing with docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Platinum-based combination chemotherapy regimens provide modest improvement in both survival and quality of life for patients with non-small cell lung cancers and docetaxel is the first agent approved for both first- and second-line treatment in patients with advanced disease. However, the regimens are associated with adverse effects.

Methods: We used a modified, shortened regimen with only 2 consecutive weekly infusions of docetaxel followed by rest for 1 week, and evaluated the efficacy and toxicity profiles in patients undergoing treatment for non-small cell lung cancers. Thirty-five patients (19 men, 16 women) with advanced non-small cell lung cancers received docetaxel (35 mg/m2 i.v. infusion on days 1 and 8) with cisplatin (60 mg/m2 i.v. infusion on day 8) in 126 cycles.

Results: Two of the 35 patients achieved complete response (5.7%), while 16 patients achieved partial response (45.7%). The overall response rate was 51.4% and median overall survival was 10.6 months. The toxicities were mild; the most common grades 3 and 4 toxicities were anaemia (5.6%), neutropenia (4.8%) and vomiting (5.6%). Other grades 3 and 4 non-haematological toxicities included diarrhoea (3.2%), neurotoxicity (0.8%), asthenia (0.8%) and phlebitis (0.8%).

Conclusion: Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and 2 consecutive weekly infusions of docetaxel can be considered an active and well-tolerated regimen with a good response rate and less toxicity for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancers.