Paclitaxel cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Background: Paclitaxel (Taxol(R)) as single agent has shown promising activity in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because paclitaxel lends itself to combination with other anticancer drugs, we have determined the efficacy of paclitaxel combined with cisplatin in patients with advanced NSCLC in a phase II trial. Patients and methods: Twenty patients with NSCLC stage IIIB or IV were treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) as a 3-hour infusion after standard premedication on day 1 and cisplatin (50 mp/m(2) daily) on days 1 and 2. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Results: All 20 patients were evaluable for response and toxic effects. Partial responses were seen in 7 (35%) patients and no change in 9 (45%) patients. Major side effects included leukopenia, anemia, alopecia and dose-limiting neurotoxicity. Conclusions: Paclitaxel/cisplatin has shown good antitumor activity in patients with advanced NSCLC and should be further evaluated in this disease. Because neurotoxicity has been dose-limiting, methods for its prevention or early detection should further enhance the clinical value of this combination chemotherapy.