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Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel and gemcitabine for previously untreated, stage IIIB‐IV nonsmall cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Akerley Wallace,
Safran Howard,
Zaner Ken,
Ready Neal,
Mega Tony,
Kennedy Teresa
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.22095
Subject(s) - medicine , gemcitabine , lung cancer , regimen , paclitaxel , chemotherapy , oncology , performance status , cancer , gastroenterology , stage (stratigraphy) , paleontology , biology
BACKGROUND. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of the noncisplatin‐based combination of paclitaxel and gemcitabine administered weekly for patients with untreated metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. Patients with Stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC, a performance status of 0–2, and no prior chemotherapy exposure were eligible. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m 2 and paclitaxel 85 mg/m 2 on Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36 of an 8‐week cycle until progression. RESULTS. Thirty‐nine eligible patients were enrolled. The median age was 66 years and 14 patients were ≥70 years old. Performance status was 2 in 13 (33%) and 29 patients (75%) had Stage IV. Five patients (12.8%) developed interstitial pneumonitis and 2 of these were responsive to steroid therapy. The overall response rate was 23.1%, with no complete responses. The median survival was 32 weeks and the 1‐year survival was 32%. CONCLUSIONS. This regimen of weekly paclitaxel and gemcitabine has modest activity in advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.