Open AccessEfficacy and safety of the combination of paclitaxel and platinum in advanced thymic carcinoma
Author(s) -
Xu Jianping,
Hao Xuezhi,
Zhang Xiangru,
Yang Sheng,
Shi Yuankai
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.12320
Subject(s) - medicine , paclitaxel , thymic carcinoma , oncology , platinum , carcinoma , chemotherapy , biochemistry , chemistry , catalysis
This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin/carboplatin for the treatment of advanced thymic carcinoma. Thirty‐seven patients (23 men and 14 women, median age 47 years, performance status score ≤2) with pathologically or cytologically diagnosed advanced thymic carcinoma were recruited. Patients received 175 mg/m 2 paclitaxel on day 1 and 75 mg/m 2 cisplatin or 300 mg/m 2 carboplatin on day 2 of a 21 day cycle for at least two cycles to evaluate efficacy and adverse events. No complete response ( CR ) was observed; 11 patients had a partial response ( PR ), 16 patients had no change ( NC ), and 10 had progressive disease, resulting in an overall response rate of 29.7%, a stable rate of 43.2%, and a disease control rate ( CR + PR + NC ) of 72.9%. Grade I / II and III / IV neutropenia were observed in 21 (56.7%) and 13 (35.1%) patients, respectively. Four (10.8%) patients developed grade I / II thrombocytopenia. Grade I / II and III / IV nausea and vomiting were observed in 19 (51.2%) and five (13.5%) patients, respectively. Grade I / II liver dysfunction was observed in seven (18.9%) patients. Two patients with grade III liver dysfunction recovered after hepatoprotective treatment. The combination of paclitaxel and platinum was effective and well tolerated in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma.