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Docetaxel plus gemcitabine as first-line treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a single institution phase II
Maria Ralli1, Ioannis Tourkantonis, Nektaria Makrilia
1Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Medicine, Athens University School of Medicine, Building Z, Sotiria General Hospital, Mesogion 152, 11527 Athens, Greece. rallh79@yahoo.gr
Background:
The cisplatin-pemetrexed and cisplatin-gemcitabine combinations are considered the standard treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of gemcitabine plus docetaxel in the first-line setting, as this combination has not been investigated in mesothelioma before.
Patients And Methods:
Twenty-five consecutive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled. They received 80 mg/m(2) of docetaxel and 1,000 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine on days 1 and 14 of a 28-day cycle. The treatment was scheduled for a maximum of 6 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Results:
A total of 7 out of our 25 patients (28%) responded to treatment. In 14 patients (56%), the disease remained stable, while in 4 (16%) it progressed. The median time to progression was 7 months (range: 5.4-8.6 months) and the median overall survival was 15 months (range: 12.4-17.5 months).
Conclusion:
The administration of gemcitabine and doctaxel appears to be promising first-line therapy for patients with mesothelioma, as it is well tolerated and appears to improve survival.
