Weekly low dose paclitaxel and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The efficacy and toxicity of weekly low dose chemotherapy using paclitaxel and cisplatin were evaluated in 22 chemotherapy-naïve patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Paclitaxel (40 mg/m(2) by 1 h infusion) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) by 1 h infusion) were administered weekly without interruption. With a median of 16 cycles of weekly chemotherapy, objective response rate was 40.9% (95% confidence interval, 18.6-63.2%). Stable disease and progressive disease categories accounted for 40.9 and 18.2%, respectively. The median response duration was 3 months (1-12 months). Myelosuppression was not noted and non-hematologic toxicities were mild. This study indicates that weekly low dose chemotherapy using paclitaxel and cisplatin could be given safely to the patients with NSCLC and showed a promising response rate.