Paclitaxel (Taxol) plus doxorubicin plus filgrastim in advanced sarcoma: a phase II study

The authors evaluated the novel chemotherapeutic regimen of paclitaxel (Taxol, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, U.S.A.) plus doxorubicin plus filgrastim--a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)--in advanced or metastatic sarcoma. Eligible patients must have had histologically confirmed advanced previously untreated soft-tissue sarcoma. All patients must have had bidimensionally measurable metastases. Treatment consisted of doxorubicin, 50 mg/m2 by intravenous push, followed 4 hours later by paclitaxel, 150 mg/m2 by continuous infusion over 24 hours every 3 weeks, plus G-CSF, 5 microg/kg, on days 3 through 12 of each cycle. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. A one-time dose escalation for doxorubicin only (60 mg/m2) was allowed in all patients who experienced no significant toxicity after their first cycle of paclitaxel plus doxorubicin. From November 1993 through May 1996, 29 patients were entered in this study. Grade 3 anemia occurred in three patients. Grade 3--4 neutropenia occurred in 20 patients. Seven patients experienced at least one episode of neutropenic fever, including one death. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia occurred in four patients. There were six partial responses in 27 eligible patients, for a response rate of 22.2% (95% confidence interval, 7%-38%). Median time to progression was 4.5 months, and median overall survival was 10.2 months. The regimen of paclitaxel plus doxorubicin plus filgrastim as used in this study appears to have no more activity than single-agent doxorubicin.