Effect of Combination Chemotherapy with Docetaxel Plus Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy, with docetaxel and cisplatin, as a first line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Between March 1998 and December 2001, 35 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled in this study. The patients were treated at 3-week intervals, with one course of a regimen consisting of docetaxel (75 mg/m2 IV for 1 hours) on day 1 and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 IV) on day 2.

The median age of the patients was 60.3 years. Of the 35 patients, 20 and 15 had stage IIIb and stage IV diseases, respectively. A complete response was observed in 1 patient and partial response in 15, with an overall response rate of 46%. The overall median survival duration was 40.3+/-25.2 weeks. The median time to progression and response duration were 21.6+/-5.5 and 15.1+/-5.9 weeks, respectively. The survival duration was statistically significantly longer in the response group (50.6 weeks) than in the non-response group (31.6 weeks) (p<0.05). Of the hematological side effects, grades III and IV leukopenia were observed in 4.8% of patients. Grades III and IV nausea and vomiting were observed in 48.5%, and grades I and II neuropathy in 11.4% of the treated patients. These toxicities were well tolerable and reversible. There were no hypersensitivity reactions.

Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy is relatively effective and safe in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.