Efficacy of Combination Chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer |
Eun Jung Rhee, Hyun Sik Jeong, Seung Sei Lee |
Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University,Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
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Published online: February 28, 2002. |
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ABSTRACT |
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination therapy of paclitaxel and cisplatin in advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 1997 and September 2001, 37 patients with advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with paclitaxel (135 mg/m2, 24 hr infusion) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2). The treatments were repeated every 4 weeks.
RESULTS: Among the 37 patients enrolled, 21 were treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin as a first-line and 16 patients as a second-line. The median age of the patients was 59. In the first-line group, 10 had stage IIIB and 11 had stage IV, non small cell lung cancer. Of 21 patients in first-line treatment group that could be evaluated, objective responses were observed in 6 patients (response rate: 28.6%, CR: 4.8%, PR: 23.8%). The mediansurvival duration for patients was 48 weeks. With the second-line group, 3 patients showed a partial response (response rate: 18.7%) to treatment, with median survival duration of 44 weeks. Grade 3-4 leukopenia was observed in 27.1% of the first-line, and 23.6% in second- line, treatment groups.
CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy, with paclitaxel and cisplatin, in non-small cell lung cancer has acceptable toxicities in both first and second-line treatment groups.
In terms of efficacy, no superior response was shown for either group. More randomized studies, with a larger group of patients, are required to prove the true efficacy. |
Key words:
Non-small cell lung cancer;Combination Chemotherapy;Paclitaxel;Cisplatin |
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